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

Rating 2719 · Master · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen a4; rooks e1/e3; knight g5; pawns a2/b4/c3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d7/h6; bishop d3; pawns a7/c4/e4/f3/g4/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight g5→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook h6→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Rh3 — rook h4→h3.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p2rq1p1/7r/6N1/QPp1p1pP/2PbRpP1/P4P1K/4R3 w - - 2 36

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