Chess Puzzle #jH8Tl — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1806 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks c1/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g5; bishops d7/g7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen b3→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa8+ (queen b7→a8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh7 — king h8→h7.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pppb2b1/2n3p1/6qp/3P4/PQ2PR1P/1P4P1/2R3K1 w - - 0 22

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