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

Rating 1772 · Advanced · attraction, clearance, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks c1/e2; knight f4; pawns a2/f2/g3. Black: king g7; queen h7; rooks c5/h8; bishop a7; pawns a6/b7/f6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen h7→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen g2→f1).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen b1→f1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, clearance, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/bp3pkq/p4p2/2r5/5N2/6P1/P3RPQ1/2R3K1 w - - 0 31

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