Chess Puzzle #CSDMF — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1584 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/e1; bishop f5; pawns a3/b4/e6/g4/h2. Black: king a8; queen d2; rooks d8/h8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/h3. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rad1 — rook a1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd1 — queen d2→d1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook e1→d1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Bh4+ — bishop e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f2→e3).
  5. Best move: Re1+ — rook d1→e1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k2r3r/pp2b3/4P3/5B2/1P2Q1P1/P6p/3q3P/R3R1K1 w - - 1 31

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