Chess Puzzle #2z4GH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1323 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king d1; queen e8; bishop f5; pawns a6/b4/c3/d3/e4. Black: king c7; queen h2; bishop d8; pawns a7/b6/c6/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg1+ — queen h2→g1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kc2 — king d1→c2. Opponent replies Qf2+ (queen g1→f2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kb3 — king c2→b3. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen f2→f5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move is Kc2.

Position data

FEN: 3bQ3/p1k2p2/Pppp4/4pB2/1P2P3/2PP4/7q/3K4 b - - 6 51

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