Chess Puzzle #9M9lQ — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2426 · Master · advantage, clearance, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e7; queen h3; rooks a8/g8; bishop d4; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen e2→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook g8→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen e4→d4, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxg3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/pN2kp2/1p2p3/2p4p/3b4/6Pq/PPPPQP1P/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 17

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