Chess Puzzle #GIAP5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2312 · Expert · castling, crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/d5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/g3. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks a8/h2; bishops b6/d7; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king g1→h2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg3+ — queen d6→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  3. Best move: O-O-O — king e8→c8.

Tactical themes

castling, crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/pp1b1p2/1b1q2p1/3B1n2/3P4/2N1P1P1/PP5r/R1BQ1RK1 w q - 0 18

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