Chess Puzzle #ZF0dP — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1819 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, long, opening, skewer.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d7/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Opponent replies Nxg6 (knight e5→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen e7→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be2 (bishop f1→e2).
  4. Best move: Qxg6 — queen e4→g6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, opening, skewer. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kbnr/pp1pq1pp/2p2p2/4N3/2P1P3/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 1 5

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