Chess Puzzle #OE3SD — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2127 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d2/g2; knight d3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f4/h2. Black: king f7; queen h6; rooks c8/g8; bishop e7; pawns a6/b7/c6/f6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd2 — queen h6→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Ne5+ (knight d3→e5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf8 — king f7→f8. Opponent replies Nd7+ (knight e5→d7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke8 — king f8→e8. Opponent replies Nxf6+ (knight d7→f6, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop e7→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxg8+ (rook g2→g8, captures rook, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kd7 — king e8→d7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3r1/1p2bk2/p1p2p1q/8/1P1P1P2/P2N1Q2/3R2RP/6K1 w - - 2 35

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