Chess Puzzle #c2OrI — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2831 · Master · advantage, clearance, deflection, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen f5; rooks a1/b1; bishop b4; pawns c4/d3/g3/h4. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks g6/h8; bishop d5; pawns b6/d7/e5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c6→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook g6→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  4. Best move: Qg2+ — queen c2→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  5. Best move: Qg1+ — queen g2→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f5→f1).
  6. Best move: Qe3+ — queen g1→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  7. Best move: Rg1 — rook g3→g1. Opponent replies Qxg1 (queen f1→g1, captures rook).
  8. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen e3→g1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, deflection, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxg3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/3p4/1pq3r1/3bpQ2/1BP4P/3P2P1/7K/RR6 w - - 2 34

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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