Chess Puzzle #4xks1 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1164 · Beginner · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/h4; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; bishop d6; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen b6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d4→a1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight e5→d7, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp1n1pp1/1qpb1n1p/3pN3/3P1P1B/3B4/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 w - - 2 13

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