Chess Puzzle #I7w5H — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2583 · Master · advantage, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns b6/b7/c7/d5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxc2 — queen f2→c2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Re4 (rook e1→e4).
  4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c2→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight g5→e4, captures queen).
  5. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd5+ (queen h5→d5, gives check).
  6. Best move: Rf7 — rook f8→f7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1ppb2p1/1pn2q2/3p3Q/3P4/5N2/PPB2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 6 24

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