Chess Puzzle #BQ97o — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1892 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king d1; queen f4; rooks a1/h1; bishop e6; pawns a2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks c8/h8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa1+ — queen c3→a1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kd2 — king d1→d2. Opponent replies Qxd4+ (queen a1→d4, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen f4→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook c8→d8).
  4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d4→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1p3pp1/p1n1B1p1/8/3P1Q2/2q5/P1P2PPP/R2K3R b k - 0 19

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