Chess Puzzle #F0oTt — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1497 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops a2/c1; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook f8; bishops c5/h3; knight b6; pawns a5/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen b8→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1q3rk1/5p1p/1n3p2/p1b5/8/P6b/BP3PP1/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 20

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