Chess Puzzle #IUs3s — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1682 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook c4; knight f1; pawns a3/b2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c1; rook d1; knight c2; pawns a6/c7/e5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g4 — pawn g2→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook d1→f1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen f2→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen c1→f1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Ne3+ — knight c2→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  5. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e3→c4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p3p1/p3p2p/4p3/2R1P3/P4P2/1Pn2QPP/2qr1NK1 w - - 11 31

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