Chess Puzzle #4qkYS — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1411 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/e4; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g6/h5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c6/f8; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d2→d7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c6→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook d1→c1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c7→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1pq2pp1/p1r1p1Pp/4Pn1P/4RN2/8/PPPQ1P2/2KR4 w - - 0 23

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