Chess Puzzle #CxogZ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2244 · Expert · advantage, fork, middlegame, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; knight c7; pawns a5/c2/d3/g2/g4. Black: king b7; queen h6; rook h8; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c5. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c7→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h6→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  3. Best move: Nxg4+ — knight f6→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight g4→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxh1 (rook f1→h1, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxh1+ — rook h8→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  6. Best move: Rxa1 — rook h1→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Nxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1kN5/p4n1q/Ppp1Q3/6P1/3P4/2P3P1/R4RK1 w - - 1 35

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