Chess Puzzle #IjI5S — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1534 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g3/g4. Black: king c8; queen e3; rooks d8/h8; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/d4/f7/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen d1→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen e3→f3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king g2→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh1 — rook h8→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp2pp1/2p5/8/3pP1P1/3Pq1P1/PPP3K1/RN1Q3R w - - 7 19

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