Chess Puzzle #IsHS4 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1663 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king e2; queen f4; rooks b1/h1; pawns a4/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen c5; rooks b3/h8; bishop c6; pawns a5/d4/d6/f6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh8 — rook h1→h8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c5→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen f4→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen c2→d2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd2 (king e2→d2, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxb1 — rook b3→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/5pk1/2bp1pp1/p1q5/P2pPQ2/1r1P4/2P1KPP1/1R5R w - - 0 27

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