Chess Puzzle #xzwO9 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen c4; rooks d7/f3; bishop g2; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/e4/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen c1; rooks b8/e8; bishop g6; knight e7; pawns a7/c6/f5/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rb2 — rook b8→b2. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f5→g6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook b2→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen c4→c2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c1→c2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/p2Rnpp1/2p3b1/4NpPp/2Q1P3/5R1P/P1P2KB1/2q5 w - - 0 26

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