Chess Puzzle #2c70d — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1576 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/c5; pawns a5/b4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d8/f8; pawns a6/b7/c6/e4/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re5 — rook c5→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d6→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qa2+ (queen d2→a2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qd5 — queen e5→d5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1p4p1/p1pq3p/P1R5/1P1Ppp2/4P3/3Q1PPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 24

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