Chess Puzzle #PQgXC — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2741 · Master · advantage, attraction, endgame, exposed king, intermezzo, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks c1/f4; bishop d5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e4/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook e8; knight g4; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/g3/g7/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g2→f3).
  3. Best move: hxg4+ — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg4 (rook f4→g4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook e8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf4 (rook g4→f4).
  5. Best move: Rxf4+ — rook f8→f4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf4 (king f3→f4, captures rook).
  6. Best move: g5+ — pawn g7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f4→e5).
  7. Best move: Qxe2 — queen h2→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, exposed king, intermezzo, very long. The key move hxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/1p4p1/p7/2pB3p/2PpPRnq/3P2pP/PP2Q1K1/2R5 w - - 1 30

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