Chess Puzzle #F8cM5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2096 · Expert · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks a1/e1; bishop c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/e8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen d7→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen f6→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d4→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p2Q1pp1/1pb2q1p/2p5/2B1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/R3R1K1 w - - 1 18

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