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

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook f3; bishop c5; knights c3/e2; pawns a3/b3/c4/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks b8/e8; bishop d6; knights c6/g4; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd6 — bishop c5→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen h4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f3→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen e1→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Ne3+ — knight g4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  5. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight e3→c2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/1p3pp1/p1nb3p/2B1P3/2P2Pnq/PPN2R1P/2Q1N1P1/6K1 w - - 0 22

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