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

Rating 1574 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f3; knight g3; pawns a2/b4/c4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen h4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen e2→e3).
  3. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen d4→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p2p2/1p2p1p1/4n2p/1PP2P1q/5RNP/P3Q1P1/R5K1 w - - 0 26

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