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

Rating 1503 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook e2; bishop d2; pawns a5/b4/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c2/f8; pawns b5/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen h5→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen f6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook c2→d2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook e2→d2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd2 — queen d4→d2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6p1/5q1p/Pp5Q/1P1P1p2/5P2/2rBR1PP/6K1 w - - 0 26

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