Chess Puzzle #0QCf8 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1843 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen b5; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; knight d2; pawns b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks a8/b8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns c5/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen b5→c6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra6 — rook a8→a6. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen c6→c7).
  3. Best move: Bd6 — bishop e7→d6. Opponent replies Qxb8+ (queen c7→b8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Bxb8 — bishop d6→b8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Ra6.

Position data

FEN: rr5k/4b1pp/5n2/1Qp5/4p3/2B1P3/qP1N1PPP/3RK2R w K - 2 22

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