Chess Puzzle #780ZP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1575 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/e1; knight f5; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/f3/h3. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishop b8; pawns a7/b7/d5/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh6 — knight f5→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3 — queen d7→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxf7+ (knight h6→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kg7 — king h8→g7.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rb2r2k/pp1q1p2/5p1p/3p1N2/1P6/P2QPP1P/5P2/2R1R1K1 w - - 3 26

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