Chess Puzzle #41iX8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1525 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f5; bishops c1/h1; pawns a3/b5/c2/d4/e5/h2. Black: king c8; queen b6; rooks d8/h8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g5/h3. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen d1→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4 — rook h8→h4. Opponent replies Qg3 (queen g4→g3).
  3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen b6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
  4. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen d4→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pp2bp2/1q6/1P1pPRp1/3P4/P6p/2P4P/R1BQ2KB w - - 1 22

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