Chess Puzzle #MXBX0 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2771 · Master · clearance, crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king a1; queen e3; rook e1; pawns a3/b2/f3/f5/g4/h3. Black: king b8; queen c2; rook c8; pawns a5/b7/d6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen c2→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king a1→a2).
  3. Best move: Rc1 — rook c8→c1. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b2→b3).
  4. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies Qe8+ (queen e3→e8, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rc8 — rook c1→c8. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen e8→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kxc8 — king b8→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1kr5/1p6/3p3p/p4Pp1/6P1/P3QP1P/1Pq5/K3R3 w - - 0 39

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