Chess Puzzle #70V2V — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2070 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks a1/g1; bishops e3/e4; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/g5. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/e7; knight h7; pawns a5/b7/c5/e6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop e4→c6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen b4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  3. Best move: bxc6 — pawn b7→c6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p2bp1n/2b1p3/p1p3Pp/Pq2B3/2N1BQ2/1PP5/R5RK w - - 0 24

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