Chess Puzzle #J7iC4 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2677 · Master · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks c1/e1; bishop c2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d5; rooks a8/d8; bishops b7/g7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f4/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen h7→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rg8 — rook d8→g8. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g8→g2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/1b2kpbQ/p3p2p/1p1q4/3P1p2/5N2/PPB2PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 10 26

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