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

Rating 1273 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen f7; rooks d1/f1; knight b1; pawns b2/c2/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen a1; rooks b8/e5; pawns a6/d6/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d1→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb2+ — queen a1→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qb4+ — queen b2→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Nc3 (knight b1→c3).
  4. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen b4→d6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/5Qpp/p2p1p2/4r3/6P1/8/1PP4P/qNKR1R2 w - - 4 30

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