Chess Puzzle #72aO5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1476 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks c2/f1; knights d1/f3; pawns a4/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks e7/e8; bishop c5; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/f4/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5+ — queen f5→g5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h6→g5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxg5 (knight f3→g5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1 — rook e7→e1.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxg5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p1r3/1p1p3q/p1bP1Q1p/P1P2p2/5N1P/2R3P1/3N1R1K w - - 8 39

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