Chess Puzzle #8Y7vS — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1533 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks c1/f1; bishops d2/g2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f4/g5/h4. Black: king c8; queen g4; rooks d8/h8; bishops c5/g6; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen e1→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen g4→h4, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp2ppn/6b1/2b3Pp/4PPqP/P1N5/1PPB2B1/2R1QR1K w - - 1 20

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