Chess Puzzle #18D69 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1368 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e4; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxh6 — bishop c1→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h4→h6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/1pp3p1/pb5p/4Q3/4B3/P1PP3P/1P4P1/R1B1K2R w KQ - 1 20

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