Chess Puzzle #H1QU5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1586 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b3/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/d8; bishop d2; pawns a4/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook d1→d2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2+ — rook d8→d2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen c2→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen b4→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/5ppp/2p5/1p6/pq2BP2/1P2P3/P1QbK1PP/3R3R w - - 0 26

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