Chess Puzzle #22Ec7 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2420 · Master · crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; bishops b8/e6; pawns e3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen a3; bishop d3; pawns a5/f6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen d1→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen a3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Be4 — bishop d3→e4. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Qd2+ — queen c1→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h2→g3).
  5. Best move: Qe1+ — queen d2→e1, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qc1+.

Position data

FEN: 1B6/6k1/4Bp1p/p5p1/6P1/q2bP2P/5P2/3Q2K1 w - - 0 34

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