Chess Puzzle #s9ohQ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2234 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, master, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook d8; bishop c3; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/g5/h2. Black: king f7; rooks f3/h7; knight g4; pawns a6/b5/g6/h3. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd7+ — rook d8→d7, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ke8 — king f7→e8. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook d7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ne3 — knight g4→e3.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, master, sacrifice, short. The key move is Ke8.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/5k1r/p5p1/1p4P1/4PNn1/2BP1r1p/PP5P/6K1 w - - 4 39

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.