Chess Puzzle #O1sBq — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2227 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen g8; rooks d1/h1; bishop h7; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c7; queen e4; bishop c5; knights b4/e5; pawns a6/b7/d4/e6/f5. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe6 — queen g8→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen e4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Nc4 — knight e5→c4. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen e6→c4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c2→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6Q1/1pk4B/p3p3/2b1np2/1n1pq3/7P/PPP2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 2 21

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