Chess Puzzle #3Wvs1 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1387 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks h1/h4; bishop h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/f5. Black: king b8; queen d5; rooks c8/h8; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c4/c6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop h6→f8, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen d5→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh1 (rook h4→h1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh1+ — rook h8→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen c2→c1).
  4. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook h1→c1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack, X-ray attack. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1kr2n1r/pp3p2/2p4B/3qPP2/2pP3R/2P5/PPQ5/1K5R w - - 1 27

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