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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks b2/e1; pawns e5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queens c1/c6; pawns b3/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen c6→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen c1→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pk1/2q1p1p1/4P2p/7P/1p1Q2P1/1R3P2/2q1R1K1 w - - 0 46

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