Chess Puzzle #6faO4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2267 · Expert · crushing, deflection, endgame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; rooks e1/e3; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/g3/h4. Black: king f8; queen f4; rook d8; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c5/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd3 — king d2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd4+ — rook d8→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen f4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d3→e2).
  4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen d4→e3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e2→f1).
  5. Best move: Nd2+ — knight c4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king f1→g2).
  6. Best move: Qxe1 — queen e3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/pp4p1/5p1p/2p4Q/2nP1q1P/2P1R1P1/P1PK4/4R3 w - - 3 31

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