Chess Puzzle #ETrBE — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2224 · Expert · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks c1/d8; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c4/f4/h4. Black: king g7; queen e4; rooks e7/f6; pawns a6/b6/e3/g6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc8 — queen d7→c8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3 — queen e4→f3. Opponent replies Rg8+ (rook d8→g8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh6 — king g7→h6. Opponent replies Rh8+ (rook g8→h8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rh7 — rook e7→h7.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf3.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/3Qr1k1/pp3rp1/8/2P1qP1P/4p3/PP2N3/2R3K1 w - - 5 30

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