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

Rating 1764 · Advanced · crushing, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks d1/e1; bishop a2; pawns a4/b3/c4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; bishop c6; pawns a5/b6/c5/e4/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bb1 — bishop a2→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: g5 — pawn g7→g5. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d1→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf8+ (rook d8→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen e7→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is g5.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/4q1pp/1pb5/p1p2p2/P1P1pQ2/1P2P1P1/B4PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 0 26

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