Chess Puzzle #DMp9D — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1986 · Advanced · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, exposed king, hanging piece, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks b7/f1; bishop h5; pawns d4/e2/e5/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks d8/f8; bishop d7; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook b7→d7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxg6 (bishop h5→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen a2→e2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen f4→h6).
  4. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen e2→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  5. Best move: fxg6+ — pawn f7→g6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, exposed king, hanging piece, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1R1b1p2/p3p1p1/3pP2B/3P1Q2/6PP/q3P3/5RK1 w - - 1 23

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