Chess Puzzle #Q8A88 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1833 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/f1; bishops d2/e6; pawns a2/d4/e3/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishops c6/g5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen a4→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe6+ (queen b3→e6, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh8 — king g8→h8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move fxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppq2ppp/2b1B3/4P1b1/Q2P4/4P2P/P2B2P1/2R2RK1 w - - 1 20

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