Chess Puzzle #jIZ9x — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2658 · Master · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks c6/c7; bishop d4; pawns a2/b2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen h3; rooks d8/h7; bishop e7; pawns d5/f7/g5/h4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook c7→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h4→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h3→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxg3 — queen h2→g3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/2R1bp1r/2R5/1Q1p2p1/3B3p/6Pq/PP2PP1P/6K1 w - - 2 27

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