Chess Puzzle #6zkxB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1552 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rooks c1/f1; knight b7; pawns a3/b2/b3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks d3/f8; bishop f5; pawns a5/b4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen f2→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook d3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h5→h4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1N4pp/8/p4b1q/1p3P2/PP1r3P/1P3QPK/2R2R2 w - - 2 30

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