Chess Puzzle #XR0tA — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2724 · Master · crushing, deflection, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen b5; rooks b1/h1; bishop f1; knight f3; pawns e4/f2/h2. Black: king b7; queen a3; rook a8; bishop c3; pawns a7/b6/c4/d5. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke3 — king e2→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop c3→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e3→f4).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook a8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f4→e5).
  4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen a3→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame. The key move is Bb4+.

Position data

FEN: r7/pk6/1p6/1Q1p4/2p1P3/q1b2N2/4KP1P/1R3B1R w - - 2 27

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