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

Rating 1896 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/e1; bishop b1; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook a8; bishops b7/d6; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/c4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf4 — queen f6→f4. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen f4→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen c2→c1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxc1 — knight d3→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1b3ppp/p2b1q2/1p1P4/2p5/P1Nn3P/1PQ2PP1/1BR1R1K1 w - - 0 21

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