Chess Puzzle #GCVoO — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1800 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; knights e7/f3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e5; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king g2→h3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight g4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h3→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd3 — knight f2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp2Np1p/3p2p1/4b2q/2P1P1n1/1P1Q1NP1/P4PKP/R3R3 w - - 0 18

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