Chess Puzzle #4I9GU — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1729 · Advanced · crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king e3; queen c4; rooks d3/e4; pawns a4/b3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks d5/d8; pawns a5/b6/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rexd4 — rook e4→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen f6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Re4 (rook d4→e4).
  3. Best move: Rxd3+ — rook d5→d3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen c4→d3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd3+ — rook d8→d3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move Rxd3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5pp1/1p3q1p/p2r4/P1QpR2P/1P1RK1P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 38

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