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

Rating 2675 · Master · advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, queen rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king e3; queen c2; pawns a2/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e5; rooks b8/c7; pawns a5/c3/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen c2→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: c2 — pawn c3→c2. Opponent replies Qd4+ (queen a4→d4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kd6 — king e5→d6. Opponent replies Qf6+ (queen d4→f6, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kc5 — king d6→c5. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e3→d2).
  5. Best move: Kb5 — king c5→b5. Opponent replies a4+ (pawn a2→a4, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kxa4 — king b5→a4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen f6→a1, gives check).
  7. Best move: Kb5 — king a4→b5.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, queen rook endgame, very long. The key move is c2.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/2r5/7p/p2Pk3/4P3/2p1K3/P1Q3PP/8 w - - 1 34

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