Chess Puzzle #WZvZX — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2037 · Expert · crushing, endgame, intermezzo, kingside attack, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook g1; bishop e1; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rook g8; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f4/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  3. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g2→f1).
  4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg8+ (rook g1→g8, captures rook, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kd7 — king c8→d7.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, kingside attack, very long. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/ppp1q3/8/4p2p/4Ppn1/P2P1Q1P/1PP2P2/4B1RK w - - 0 29

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