Chess Puzzle #2zbx2 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1176 · Beginner · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e4→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h4→h1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp3ppp/4p3/3pP3/2pPn3/2P5/PPQ1BPPP/RN2K2R w KQ - 1 12

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