Chess Puzzle #1BLZd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rook g8; pawns a3/b2/c3/e3/f2. Black: king a7; queen c6; rook h6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e4/f5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen h5→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h6→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king c1→c2).
  3. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c6→a4, gives check. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b2→b3).
  4. Best move: Qxa3 — queen a4→a3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ra8+ (rook g8→a8, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxa8 — king a7→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qc8+ (queen f5→c8, gives check).
  6. Best move: Ka7 — king a8→a7. Opponent replies Qc5+ (queen c8→c5, gives check).
  7. Best move: Qxc5 — queen a3→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move is Rh1+.

Position data

FEN: 6R1/kp6/p1q4r/3p1p1Q/4p3/P1P1P3/1P3P2/2K5 w - - 4 35

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