Chess Puzzle #QqZCx — Advanced, White to move, endgame

Rating 1980 · Advanced · deflection, endgame, equality, exposed king, queen endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen e4; pawns a6/g3/g4. Black: king c6; queen b6; pawns a7/c5/d4/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc7 — king c6→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e4→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king c7→c6).
  3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd5 (king c6→d5).
  4. Best move: Qf7+ — queen e8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen b6→e6).
  5. Best move: Qxa7 — queen f7→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies d3 (pawn d4→d3).
  6. Best move: Qb7+ — queen a7→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen e6→c6).
  7. Best move: Kf2 — king g2→f2. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c5→c4).
  8. Best move: Ke3 — king f2→e3.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, equality, exposed king, queen endgame, very long. The key move is Qe7+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p7/Pqk2p2/2p3p1/3pQ1P1/6P1/6K1/8 b - - 11 45

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