Chess Puzzle #L1ZKX — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rooks a1/g3; bishop c3; knight b1; pawns b3/c2/d4/e6. Black: king c8; queen h4; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/d5/f4. White is ahead by 10 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh3 — rook g3→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: f3+ — pawn f4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3 — queen h4→h3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d3→f3, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen h3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is f3+.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/1p6/2nbP3/p2p4/3P1p1q/1PBQ2R1/2P4K/RN6 w - - 0 27

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