Chess Puzzle #FB3kX — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · clearance, crushing, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king f3; queen e4; rook c2; pawns a3/b4/f5/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen d7; rook d8; pawns a6/b7/c5/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook c2→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d7→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe2 (queen e4→e2).
  3. Best move: Rd3+ — rook d8→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king f3→f2).
  4. Best move: Rd2 — rook d3→d2.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Qd1+.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/1p1q2p1/p7/2p2P1p/1P2Q2P/P4KP1/2R5/8 w - - 3 38

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