Chess Puzzle #Ux3j5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2293 · Expert · crushing, endgame, exposed king, master, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook b1; bishop a2; pawns a4/c3/e5/g4/h3. Black: king a8; queen c5; rook d7; bishop g5; pawns a5/c6/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe6 — bishop a2→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxd7 (bishop e6→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen c3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  4. Best move: Be3+ — bishop g5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen e4→e3, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen h3→e3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, master, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k7/3r2pp/2p1p3/p1q1P1b1/P3Q1P1/2P4P/B7/1R5K w - - 10 40

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