Chess Puzzle #M9mh6 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1638 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king e1; queen f8; rooks a1/h1; bishop f7; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h3; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc8 — queen f8→c8, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qxh1 — queen c1→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qc1+.

Position data

FEN: rnb2Qnr/pppp1B1p/8/6q1/3PP3/6Pk/PPP2P1P/RN2K2R w KQ - 1 13

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