Chess Puzzle #VxsP9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1874 · Advanced · equality, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e5; bishop f1; pawns a3/b2/c2/d6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; bishop f3; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/f7/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen d1→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen h3→f1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1pp1p2/1p1Pp3/4R2p/6p1/P4bPq/1PP2P1P/R2Q1BK1 w kq - 3 20

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