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

Rating 1330 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e3; knight g5; pawns a4/f4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d1; rook d8; bishop g6; pawns a5/b7/c6/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf2 — king g1→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen e2→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen d1→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, pin, short. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/1p3p2/2p3b1/p5N1/P4P2/4R1PP/4Q3/3q2K1 w - - 5 38

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