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

Rating 1393 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e3; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; knight c3; pawns a3/c2/d2/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen a5; rooks e4/h8; bishop e6; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e3→e4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen a5→h5, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Rh1+.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/ppp2p2/1np1b3/q7/4r3/P1NBQ3/2PP1PP1/R1B2K2 w - - 0 24

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