Chess Puzzle #85T8z — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2124 · Expert · equality, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c5; knight f2; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen d1→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  3. Best move: Ng4 — knight f2→g4. Opponent replies Rh1 (rook f1→h1).
  4. Best move: Ne3+ — knight g4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen f3→e3, captures knight).
  5. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h4→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g2→h1, captures queen).
  6. Best move: Bxe3 — bishop c5→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2pp1/p6p/2b1P3/8/2P5/PPBN1n1K/R1BQ1R2 w - - 0 18

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