Chess Puzzle #BwQ21 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2090 · Expert · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d7/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen a7; rook d8; bishop a6; pawns b5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd8 — queen f6→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3 — queen a7→e3. Opponent replies Qh8+ (queen d8→h8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxh8 — king h7→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move is Qe3.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/q2P3k/b4Q1p/1p6/8/5P2/PPP3PP/7K w - - 2 28

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