Chess Puzzle #8MQim — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rook e1; pawns a3/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; bishop e6; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen d6→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen c4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Bh3 — bishop e6→h3. Opponent replies Qc8+ (queen a6→c8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Bxc8 — bishop h3→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/p2Qb1p1/1p2P3/2q5/P5P1/5P1P/4R2K w - - 0 28

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