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

Rating 1911 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; knight f2; pawns a5/b5/f3/g2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks f8/h4; pawns c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh3 — knight f2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3 — rook h4→h3, captures knight. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg3+ — queen f4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  5. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h3→g3, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2p3p1/3p3p/PP1Qp3/5q1r/5P2/5NP1/R4RK1 w - - 3 38

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