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

Rating 1471 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks d1/e1; bishop e2; knights e4/g4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop h4; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd6 — knight e4→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: fxg4 — pawn f5→g4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen h3→e3).
  3. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop h4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen e3→f2, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p3q1pp/1pp1p3/5p2/2P1N1Nb/7Q/PP2BPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18

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