Chess Puzzle #CV2ce — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2086 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/c6; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/h2. Black: king a8; queen d7; rook d8; knight f6; pawns a7/f3/f7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3 — queen d7→h3. Opponent replies Rc8+ (rook c6→c8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8+ (rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxc8 — queen h3→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qh3.

Position data

FEN: k2r4/p2q1p2/2R2n1p/8/Q2P4/4Pp2/PP3P1P/2R3K1 w - - 0 23

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