Chess Puzzle #5EVo2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1240 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f2/g3. Black: king e8; queen g4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; pawns a5/a7/c7/d6/e5/f7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh4 — rook h8→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen e2→g4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxg4 — rook h4→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1p2p2/2bp4/p3p3/4P1qp/5NP1/PBP1QP2/R3R1K1 w kq - 0 19

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