Chess Puzzle #8ZIZ9 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2505 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, exposed king, queen rook endgame.

Position

White: king f2; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4. Black: king f6; queen h3; pawns a7/b6/c4/f3. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook e7→e8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg2+ — queen h3→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f2→e3).
  3. Best move: f2 — pawn f3→f2. Opponent replies Rf8+ (rook e8→f8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg7 — king f6→g7. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f8→f2, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qg3+ — queen g2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e3→d2).
  6. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen g3→f2, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, exposed king, queen rook endgame, very long. The key move Qxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3R3/1p3k2/8/2pP4/2P2p1q/PP3K2/4R3 w - - 3 45

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