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

Rating 1313 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook a1; bishops d6/g2; pawns a4/b3/c2/d3/e4/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop c4; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop d6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen d8→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf2 (queen d2→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen d4→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1r2/1p3p1k/2nB3p/p1p3p1/P1b1P3/1P1P2P1/2PQ2BP/R5K1 w - - 0 21

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