Chess Puzzle #FSXEx — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2500 · Master · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rooks d1/h1; bishops c1/d3; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4. Black: king b8; queen e5; rooks d8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight f4; pawns a3/b6/c7/d6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf7 — knight g5→f7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3 — queen e5→c3. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen h6→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh8 — rook d8→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: 1kbr3r/2p5/1p1p3Q/2b1q1N1/4Pn2/pP1B4/P1P5/1KBR3R w - - 5 32

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