Chess Puzzle #CXdgg — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2511 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks e1/e3; bishop c4; pawns b3/e4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a1/a8; pawns c2/d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxc2 — king c1→c2, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: R8a2+ — rook a8→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc3 (king c2→c3).
  3. Best move: Qa5+ — queen b6→a5, gives check. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b3→b4).
  4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen a5→e5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5ppp/1q1p4/4P3/2B1P3/1P1QR3/2p3PP/r1K1R3 w - - 3 29

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