Chess Puzzle #LF4Z9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1570 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen f2; rooks a1/h1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/f5; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen f2→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen h6→d2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd2 (king e1→d2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rf2+ — rook f5→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king d2→e3).
  4. Best move: Rxg2 — rook f2→g2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppp3pp/3p3q/4pr2/2Pn4/2NP2P1/PP3QBP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 16

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