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

Rating 2395 · Expert · advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks c1/g3; bishop b1; knight d2; pawns a4/b4/c3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks b8/c8; bishop b7; knight h4; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen e2→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg2 (rook g3→g2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/1b3ppp/p3p3/3pP3/PP1Q1P1n/2P3R1/3Nq1PP/1BR3K1 w - - 11 27

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