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

Rating 2598 · Master · crushing, endgame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks e5/f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g5; rooks d8/f8; pawns a7/c5/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook e5→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Qh6 — queen g5→h6. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
  4. Best move: Qe3 — queen h6→e3. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen c4→f1).
  5. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e3→c5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, very long. The key move is Rd2.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/p1p3pp/8/2p1RPq1/2Q1P3/8/PPP3PP/5RK1 w - - 1 21

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