Chess Puzzle #CfC0v — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1963 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks c1/h1; knights d2/h4; pawns a2/e2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a7/c6/c7/f5/g4/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5 — queen d4→d5. Opponent replies Rc3 (rook c6→c3).
  3. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen d5→h1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p1p4p/2p5/5p2/3q2pN/6P1/P2NP2P/2RQK2R w Kkq - 0 16

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