Chess Puzzle #69f74 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1594 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rook a1; bishop c1; knight d5; pawns a3/b4/c4/d3/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rook e8; bishop e6; pawns a7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf4 — bishop c1→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king f1→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen h1→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qh1+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p1p2ppp/4b3/3N4/1PP5/P2P4/4Q1Pq/R1B2K2 w - - 0 23

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