Chess Puzzle #3xM4w — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2237 · Expert · equality, middlegame, quiet move, trapped piece, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops b7/c1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishops e7/g4; pawns a7/c4/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba6 — bishop b7→a6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5 — queen d8→d5. Opponent replies O-O (king e1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qc6 — queen d5→c6. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h2→h3).
  4. Best move: Bh5 — bishop g4→h5. Opponent replies Bxc4+ (bishop a6→c4, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c6→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, quiet move, trapped piece, very long. The key move is Qd5.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1rk1/pB2b1p1/7p/4Pp2/2pP2b1/2P5/PPQ3PP/R1B1K2R w KQ - 1 17

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