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

Rating 2228 · Expert · advantage, deflection, discovered attack, discovered check, fork, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen d5; rook h8; bishop h3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g4. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc5 — rook c1→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop e2→f3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bg4+ — bishop h3→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  4. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop g4→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Rh2+ — rook h8→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king g2→h2, captures rook).
  6. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d5→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, discovered attack, discovered check, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/ppp5/2n5/3q4/3P2p1/4PNPb/PP2BP1K/2RQR3 w - - 0 25

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.