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

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, endgame, master, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen a3; rooks d1/h1; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook c2; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/d4/e5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen a3→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook d1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd3+ — queen c4→d3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, master, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxd3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5bk1/1p3p1p/p5p1/3Pp3/2qpP3/Q6P/PPr2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 23

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