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

Rating 2209 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks b7/e6; bishops d3/e3; pawns g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a7/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook e6→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen a2→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen d5→c6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen d1→h5).
  4. Best move: h6 — pawn h7→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pR4pp/2n1Rb2/8/3p4/3BB1P1/q6P/3Q3K w - - 0 23

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