Chess Puzzle #79hXg — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2103 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks b1/e2; knight d6; pawns b3/e6/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks d8/g6; pawns b4/f4/f5/h4. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight d6→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen e7→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen d5→d4).
  3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight f5→d4, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen a7→d4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/4q2k/3NP1r1/3Q1p2/1p3p1p/1P3P1P/4R1P1/1R4K1 w - - 1 37

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