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

Rating 1417 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen c2; rooks a1/h3; bishop h7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f3/g2/g4. Black: king e7; queen d6; rooks f8/h8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop h7→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3 — rook h8→h3, captures rook. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen d6→h2, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r1r/pp1nk2B/2pq1n2/3p2p1/3P2P1/2N1PP1R/PPQ2KP1/R7 w - - 4 21

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