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

Rating 2244 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/b1; knights d2/f7; pawns c3/d4/g2. Black: king b8; queen c8; rook h7; bishops d6/d7; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/d5/g3/g4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8 — queen c8→f8. Opponent replies N2e4 (knight d2→e4).
  3. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxb6+ (rook b1→b6, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ka8 — king b8→a8. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight d6→e4, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qf4 — queen f8→f4.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qf8.

Position data

FEN: 1kq5/p2b1N1r/1pnb4/3p4/Q2P2p1/2P3p1/3N2P1/RR4K1 w - - 4 30

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