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

Rating 1579 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, hanging piece, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c7; rook b2; knight f3; pawns a7/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a4; rook a1; bishop c2; pawns b3/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight f3→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen a4→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies a8=R+ (pawn a7→a8, promotes to rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, hanging piece, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/P1Q2pp1/7p/8/q7/1p3N1P/1Rb2PPK/r7 w - - 1 32

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