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

Rating 2344 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knight c4; pawns a2/b4/c3/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks e8/h8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e5/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b4→b5).
  3. Best move: Qd5 — queen c6→d5. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen f5→d5, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop b7→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd6+ (knight c4→d6, gives check).
  5. Best move: cxd6 — pawn c7→d6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is e4.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/pbpp4/1pq2n1p/4pQp1/1PN5/2PB4/P5PP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 8 20

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