Chess Puzzle #4otV0 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1659 · Advanced · deflection, equality, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king b2; queen d2; rook h1; bishop e2; knights e3/f3; pawns b3/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; knight d4; pawns b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d7→d4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qc3 (queen d2→c3).
  3. Best move: Ra2+ — rook a8→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa2 (king b2→a2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1ppq1ppp/8/4p3/3n4/1P1PNN2/1K1QBPPP/7R w - - 3 19

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