Chess Puzzle #1pOFc — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2020 · Expert · attraction, crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen f2; rook e1; bishops f1/f4; pawns b4/c2/f6/h3. Black: king g8; queen c3; rook c8; bishop e6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re3 — rook e1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen c3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king d2→c2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qa2+ — queen a1→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd3 (king c2→d3).
  5. Best move: Qxf2 — queen a2→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp3p1p/4bPp1/8/1P3B2/2q4P/2P2Q2/2K1RB2 w - - 1 30

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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