Chess Puzzle #1kZXi — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1085 · Beginner · crushing, master, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king b3; queen e3; rooks d1/f1; bishop g5; knight d2; pawns c5/d4/f4. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook g6; pawns b4/c6/c7/d5/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook d1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen a6→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king b3→c2).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen a3→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qa3+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p3pp/q1p3r1/2Pp2B1/1p1PpP2/1K2Q3/3N4/3R1R2 w - - 4 37

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