Chess Puzzle #Nc9XN — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2035 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen e1; rook b1; pawns d3/g2/h3. Black: king f6; queen c2; pawns b2/c5/e5/f4/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd1 — queen e1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd1 — queen c2→d1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook b1→d1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook d1→b1).
  4. Best move: exd3 — pawn e4→d3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook b1→b2, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: c4 — pawn c5→c4.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move Qxd1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1p/5k2/2p1p3/5p2/3P3P/1pq3PK/1R2Q3 w - - 0 39

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