Chess Puzzle #HAxP8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1401 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d5; rooks a1/h1; bishop h5; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/g7; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O-O — king e1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d8→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Ne3 (knight c4→e3).
  3. Best move: Qxh5 — queen g5→h5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg5+.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qkb2/1p3prp/p1np4/3QpP1B/2N5/2P5/PP3PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 5 17

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