Chess Puzzle #d8p2U — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2357 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks b1/f1; bishops c4/d2; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/c2/e4/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/h3; knights c7/h5; pawns a7/c6/d5/f4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4 — queen d7→g4. Opponent replies d6+ (pawn d5→d6, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Opponent replies Ne1 (knight f3→e1).
  4. Best move: f3 — pawn f4→f3. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Be2 (bishop c4→e2).
  6. Best move: Bxg2 — bishop h3→g2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move is Qg4.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1nqb1pp/2p5/3pP2n/2B1Pp2/P1N2N1b/2PB1PP1/1R1Q1RK1 w - - 0 19

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