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

Rating 1259 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king g3; queen a7; knight f6; pawns f4/g5/h2. Black: king g7; queen c6; pawns a6/b4/d6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen a7→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen d4→c3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Qc3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/Q4pkp/p1qp1N2/6P1/1p3P2/6K1/7P/8 w - - 2 37

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