Chess Puzzle #0Kl35 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1520 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen c3; rook d1; knights c6/e4; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f3/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks d2/h5; knight e5; pawns a6/b6/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king g2→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/2q2p2/ppN1p1p1/4n2r/2P1N3/1PQ1PPP1/P2r2KP/3R4 w - - 0 29

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