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

Rating 2401 · Master · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, pin, very long.

Position

White: king d2; queen e4; knight c3; pawns a3/d4/e5/g4/g5. Black: king c8; queen b3; rook f2; pawns a7/b7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd3 — king d2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen b3→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc4 (king d3→c4).
  3. Best move: b5+ — pawn b7→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb5 (king c4→b5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qb3+ — queen c2→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king b5→a5).
  5. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen b3→c3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, pin, very long. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/pp6/8/4P1P1/3PQ1P1/PqN5/3K1r2/8 w - - 1 38

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