Chess Puzzle #9BdMu — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2712 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; pawns a3/b4/b6/d4/d5/f2/g4. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks b8/h6; pawns a7/c7/d6/e5/f4/g7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd1 — rook f1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen f3→e4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: f3 — pawn f4→f3. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen e4→f3, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rf8 — rook b8→f8.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is e4.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p1p3p1/1P1p3r/3Pp3/1P1P1pPq/P4Q2/1B3P2/R4RK1 w - - 3 26

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