Chess Puzzle #6LxYU — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2250 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks b6/e1; bishop a5; knight a3; pawns a4/c4/d3/e3/f2/h2. Black: king c7; queen h4; rooks g8/h8; knights f3/h7; pawns a6/c5/d6/e6/f7/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa6+ — rook b6→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kd7 — king c7→d7. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Ra7+ (rook a6→a7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke8 — king d7→e8. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook e1→b1).
  5. Best move: Kf8 — king e8→f8.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Kd7.

Position data

FEN: 6rr/2k2p1n/pR1pp3/B1p4p/P1P3pq/N2PPn2/5P1P/3QR2K w - - 10 30

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