Chess Puzzle #37j1L — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2253 · Expert · crushing, endgame, intermezzo, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen f2; rook e1; knight d2; pawns b6/c5/d4/e3/g3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rook e4; knight g5; pawns b7/c6/d5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen h5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook e1→f1).
  4. Best move: Nf3+ — knight g5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen f2→f3, captures knight).
  5. Best move: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, very long. The key move is Qh3+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3pp1/1Pp5/2Pp2nq/3Pr3/4P1P1/3N1QK1/4R3 w - - 5 38

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