Chess Puzzle #0XDt7 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1379 · Intermediate · crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks c1/d5; bishops b2/e2; knight c6; pawns a4/b5/c5/e3/h3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks c8/d8; bishop h6; pawns a7/b6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Bxe3+ — bishop h6→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen b3→e3, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen h3→e3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/p4p1p/1pN3pb/1PPR4/P7/1Q2P1qP/1B2B3/2R3K1 w - - 1 25

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