Chess Puzzle #7u39Q — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1844 · Advanced · crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks c1/f1; bishops d4/f5; pawns a2/b4/e6. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks g8/h7; bishop c5; knight g6; pawns a7/b6/g3/h2. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc5 — pawn b4→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc6+ — queen c7→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook f1→f3).
  3. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen c6→f3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qg2 (queen d2→g2).
  4. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen f3→g2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/p1q4r/1p2P1n1/2b2B2/1P1B4/6p1/P2Q3p/2R2R1K w - - 0 31

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