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

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

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks c1/h1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rhd1 — rook h1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d5→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen f4→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pb3ppp/2p5/1p1qN3/5Q2/4P3/PP3PPP/1KR4R w - - 2 19

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