Chess Puzzle #E2WJq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1488 · Intermediate · crushing, hanging piece, kingside attack, long, middlegame, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks c1/e1; knights c3/d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen a3; rooks e6/e8; bishop g7; knight d7; pawns a6/b6/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen a3→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen f2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen c1→e1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook e6→e1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, kingside attack, long, middlegame, X-ray attack. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/3n1pbk/pp2r1pp/3N4/2P2P2/qPN4P/P4QP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 8 29

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