Chess Puzzle #heTQX — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2546 · Master · advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g3. Black: king c8; queen g7; rooks d8/h4; bishop d7; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f5/g4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen b4→a5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6 — queen g7→h6. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe3+ — queen h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  4. Best move: Bc6+ — bishop d7→c6, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/pppb2q1/4p3/n1N2p2/1Q1P2pr/2PB2P1/PP6/R4RK1 w - - 0 24

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