Chess Puzzle #EZBCv — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/g1; bishop e4; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/c2/f2/f6/h2. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks c7/g8; bishop f8; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/d4/e5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh7 — queen h5→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg5 — rook g8→g5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxg5 (rook g1→g5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen c3→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4kbr1/2r2p1p/pn3P2/1p2p1NQ/1P1pB3/P1q5/2P2P1P/R5RK w - - 5 25

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