Chess Puzzle #cvg3w — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2331 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king d2; queen e6; rook c1; bishops e2/f6; pawns c2/c3/e5/f3/g5/g7. Black: king a7; queen a5; rook g8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/c4/d4. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg8 — queen e6→g8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen a5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king d2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qe3 — queen c3→e3. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen g8→c4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/kb4P1/p3QB2/qp2P1P1/2pp4/2P2P2/2PKB3/2R5 w - - 0 35

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