Chess Puzzle #1eqrg — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1827 · Advanced · advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/f3; bishop g2; pawns a2/e4/f6. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks c3/f8; knight g6; pawns a7/b5/d4/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook f3→c3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen a3→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen h3→h6).
  3. Best move: Qe3+ — queen c3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen h6→e3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p4p2/5Pn1/1p2p3/3pP3/q1r2R1Q/P5B1/5RK1 w - - 2 32

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