Chess Puzzle #3mjTd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1542 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king f1; queen e6; rooks e1/e2; bishop c5; pawns a2/b4/f3/h2. Black: king d8; queen d2; rook c2; bishop b5; pawns a6/b7/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be7+ — bishop c5→e7, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kc7 — king d8→c7. Opponent replies Bd6+ (bishop e7→d6, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen d2→d6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd6+ (queen e6→d6, captures queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxd6 — king c7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Kc7.

Position data

FEN: 3k4/1p4pp/p3Qp2/1bB1p3/1P6/5P2/P1rqR2P/4RK2 w - - 15 35

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