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

Rating 1953 · Advanced · crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; knights c5/d4; pawns a2/b4/c3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop h3; knight f4; pawns a6/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen d6→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Qg4 (queen d1→g4).
  3. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen g6→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5ppp/p1pq4/2Np4/1P1N1n2/2P4b/P4PP1/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 20

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