Chess Puzzle #O2qrD — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2258 · Expert · crushing, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king d2; queen h6; rook h1; bishops f1/f4; knight d4; pawns b3/c2/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook c8; bishop f5; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight d4→f5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen a2→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qb1+ — queen c2→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop f4→c1).
  4. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen h6→c1, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen b1→c1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp3p1p/3P2pQ/5b2/1n1N1B2/1P6/q1PK1PPP/5B1R w - - 0 20

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