Chess Puzzle #1CzAa — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 969 · Beginner · crushing, long, middlegame, skewer.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/e1; bishop e6; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen b8; rooks f8/h6; bishop e3; pawns a7/b7/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e1→e3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen b8→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen h1→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move is Qh2+.

Position data

FEN: 1q3r1k/pp4pp/4B2r/5p2/8/P3bQ2/1P3PP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 26

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