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

Rating 2622 · Master · advantage, defensive move, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen c6; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f3/h2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; pawns a7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa8 — queen c6→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen f2→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d1→c2).
  3. Best move: Ke7 — king f8→e7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/p1p2ppp/2Q5/2bpP3/8/2P2P1P/PP3q1P/RNBK3R w - - 3 14

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