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

Rating 1474 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c6; rook f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen e5; rook b8; knight f6; pawns a6/c7/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen c6→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen e5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen e3→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move is Qe3+.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/2p1p1kp/p1Q2np1/4q3/8/2N5/PPP3PP/2K2R2 w - - 1 23

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