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

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks f1/f4; bishop g1; knight c3; pawns b2/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/e7; bishop b7; knight g4; pawns a6/c4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg4 — rook f4→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh2 (bishop g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen h3→g4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1b2rpp1/p6p/4P2q/2pP1Rn1/2N4P/1PQ3P1/5RBK w - - 1 26

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