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

Rating 1979 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e3/e4/g2. Black: king b8; queen g3; rooks d8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rdf8 — rook d8→f8. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen f5→g5).
  3. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen g5→g3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxg3 — rook f3→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rdf8.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/ppp3p1/2np4/4pQ2/4P3/3PP1q1/PPPN2P1/R4RK1 w - - 3 19

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