Chess Puzzle #ZbxGS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1904 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks d1/g1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/f2; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf8 — queen e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen h6→h5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen f8→f4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen f4→f5).
  4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen h5→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3q1k1/ppp4p/3p2pQ/7n/8/2N5/PPP2r1P/2KR2R1 b - - 1 18

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