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

Rating 1499 · Intermediate · advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishops c4/d4; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knights a4/g4; pawns a5/b4/c6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg7 — bishop d4→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen d6→d2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d1→d2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Kxg7 — king h7→g7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rf7+ (rook f1→f7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh6 — king g7→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/6bk/2pq2p1/p6p/npBBP1nP/8/PPPQN1P1/2KR1R2 w - - 0 22

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