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

Rating 1650 · Advanced · advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen g2; rooks d1/g1; knight d6; pawns b2/c2/e5/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rook d8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/d4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen g2→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd6 — rook d8→d6, captures knight. Opponent replies exd6 (pawn e5→d6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bd5+ — bishop e6→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen c6→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen h5→d5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5p1p/p1nNb1p1/1p2P2q/3p1P2/8/1PP3QP/3R2RK w - - 0 31

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