Chess Puzzle #5Qzk3 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1641 · Advanced · equality, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; knights d7/f6; pawns a5/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen d5→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe4+ — rook e8→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen c4→e4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, opening, short. The key move Rxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/3n1ppp/5n2/p1pQ4/4P3/5N2/PPP2PPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 1 15

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