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

Rating 1472 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/g1; bishops b2/f3; knight e6; pawns a3/b3/c2/d3/e3/f4/h4. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks c8/f8; bishop c5; knights f6/h5; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/g6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e6→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Qh2 (queen e2→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen h3→f3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p1q2p1/p1p1Nnp1/2bp3n/5P1P/PP1PPB2/1BP1Q3/R5RK w - - 1 26

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