Chess Puzzle #0EFZa — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1659 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king d1; queen a8; rooks a1/h1; bishop b2; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen e7; bishops a6/d6; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a8→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e7→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d1→c1).
  3. Best move: Bf4+ — bishop d6→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Nd2 (knight b1→d2).
  4. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen e2→d2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  5. Best move: Bd3 — bishop a6→d3.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q7/p1ppqkpp/bp1b1n2/8/8/1P6/PBP2PPP/RN1K3R w - - 3 14

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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