Chess Puzzle #20MKw — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1588 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks c1/d1; knights d4/e2; pawns a3/b2/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/g5; bishops b7/e7; pawns a6/b6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb6 — pawn c5→b6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g5→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2 — queen c7→h2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen e6→e7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ng1 (knight e2→g1).
  5. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen h1→g1, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6k/1bq1b1pp/pp2Q3/2P3r1/3N4/P7/1P2NPPP/2RR2K1 w - - 1 25

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