Chess Puzzle #hJoe5 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1888 · Advanced · equality, fork, long, opening.

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d4/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d6/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen h5; rooks b8/g8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d7/e6/f5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen h4→d4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen d1→d4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, opening. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rb1k1r1/pp1p3p/2nPp3/5ppq/3B4/5N1P/PPP2KP1/R2Q1B1R w - - 1 15

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