Chess Puzzle #2LMO3 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1233 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h7; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights c3/e4; pawns a2/b2/c5/d2/g2. Black: king e6; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights b8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e3/e5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen h7→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh1+ — rook h8→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Nf4+ — knight g6→f4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1q3r/ppp3bQ/4k1n1/2P1p3/4N3/2N1p3/PP1P2P1/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 18

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