Chess Puzzle #RI3il — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1818 · Advanced · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knights e4/f3; pawns a3/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/e5; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g2→f3).
  3. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight g4→e5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppb1ppp/2p5/4b2q/4N1n1/P2B1NP1/2P2PKP/R1BQR3 w - - 5 18

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