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

Rating 2185 · Expert · equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop g3; knight d8; pawns a3/b4/c4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rook h8; bishop d6; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/c7/e4/f6/g4/g7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen a4→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh2 (bishop g3→h2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxh2+ — bishop d6→h2, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, short, X-ray attack. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kN2nr/1pp3p1/p2b1p2/3P3q/QPP1p1p1/P5B1/5PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 20

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