Chess Puzzle #4VNci — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1074 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g2; rooks d1/e6; pawns a3/b2/d5/f3/h2. Black: king f8; queen f4; pawns a7/b7/f5/g4/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg4 — pawn f3→g4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen f4→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g2→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxd1 — queen g4→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, queen rook endgame, short. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/pp4p1/4R3/3P1p2/5qp1/P4P2/1P4KP/3R4 w - - 0 35

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