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

Rating 2003 · Expert · attraction, crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; knight e5; pawns a2/c4/e3/f3/f4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; knight f6; pawns c5/e6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg3 — king g2→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: h4+ — pawn h5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh4 (king g3→h4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qf2+ — queen b2→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h4→g5).
  4. Best move: Qg3+ — queen f2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Ng4 (knight e5→g4).
  5. Best move: Nh7+ — knight f6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7+ (queen d3→h7, captures knight, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is h4+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6p1/4pn2/2p1N2p/2P2P2/3QPP1P/Pq4K1/8 w - - 1 43

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