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

Rating 1863 · Advanced · equality, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/g6; bishops c8/d6; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd3 — bishop e2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh3 — bishop c8→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e4→e5).
  3. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g6→g2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/ppq3pp/3b2r1/2pP4/4P3/1P3N1P/P3BPP1/2RQ1RK1 w - - 1 18

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