Chess Puzzle #Ll0BN — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2288 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king d1; queen g3; rook b1; bishops d2/h1; pawns a3/e3/g7. Black: king d7; queen g8; rook d3; bishop c8; pawns c5/d6/e4/f5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen g3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2 — queen g8→a2. Opponent replies Rb2 (rook b1→b2).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen a2→b2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf5+ (queen g5→f5, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kc7 — king d7→c7. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen f5→c8, captures bishop, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxc8 — king c7→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies g8=Q+ (pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kc7 — king c8→c7. Opponent replies Qf7+ (queen g8→f7, gives check).
  7. Best move: Kb6 — king c7→b6.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qa2.

Position data

FEN: 2b3q1/3k2P1/3p4/2p2p2/4p3/P2rP1Q1/3B4/1R1K3B w - - 1 31

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