Chess Puzzle #37ZPz — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1057 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e3; queen h8; knight g5; pawns a2/b5/e2. Black: king d7; rook h2; bishop h3; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh3 — knight g5→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h2→h3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh3 (queen h8→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: gxh3 — pawn g4→h3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7Q/pp1k1p2/4p3/1P4N1/6p1/4K2b/P3P2r/8 w - - 0 32

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