Chess Puzzle #pX3pn — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1876 · Advanced · equality, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop d3; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g5/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen h4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, opening, short. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp3p2/2pn4/3pN1pp/3P1P1q/2NB3P/PP4P1/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 21

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