Chess Puzzle #9YyOH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1423 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/g1; bishop d3; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/h4. Black: king h8; queen f8; rooks a8/f6; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf5 — bishop d3→f5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen e5→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f8→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4q1k/ppp4p/5r2/3pQb2/7P/3B4/PPP5/RN2K1R1 w Q - 4 19

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