Chess Puzzle #15EtE — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2183 · Expert · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rook d1; bishops b2/e4; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/f3. Black: king h8; queen h2; rook d8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f5/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen h1→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd1 (king e2→d1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Be5+ — bishop d6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen c3→d2).
  5. Best move: Rxd2+ — rook d8→d2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd2 (king d1→d2, captures rook).
  6. Best move: Bxb2 — bishop e5→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/p5p1/1p1bp3/5p2/2P1B3/1P3P2/PBQ2P1q/3R1K2 w - - 0 26

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