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

Rating 2382 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f3/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/g2; bishop h2; knight f6; pawns a6/c6/d5/e6/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg2 — king h1→g2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen c7→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Nh5 — knight f6→h5. Opponent replies Qxc6+ (queen c2→c6, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke7 — king e8→e7.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qg3+.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/2q2p1p/p1p1pn2/3p1p2/3PP3/5P1P/PPQN2rb/R1B2R1K w q - 0 17

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