Chess Puzzle #3Iu2X — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2262 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rook f2; bishop e1; pawns a4/b5/c4/g3/h4. Black: king b8; queen c5; rook d1; pawns b7/c7/f5. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3 — queen c5→e3. Opponent replies Qh8+ (queen h7→h8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Ka7 — king b8→a7. Opponent replies Re2 (rook f2→e2).
  4. Best move: Qf3+ — queen e3→f3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move is Qe3.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1pp4Q/8/1Pq2p2/P1P4P/6P1/5R2/3rB1K1 w - - 1 34

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