Chess Puzzle #jl25I — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2041 · Expert · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks d1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a2/c4/c5/e3/g2/g4. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks f2/f8; pawns a6/b7/e6/g6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe6+ — queen e4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Opponent replies Qd5 (queen e6→d5).
  3. Best move: Rxb2 — rook f2→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Kh8.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p4pp/p3p1p1/2P5/2P1Q1P1/4P1q1/PB3rP1/3RR1K1 w - - 1 23

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