Chess Puzzle #dSKA9 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2686 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, attraction, defensive move, endgame, promotion.

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rook a8; bishop a6; pawns b7/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook b8; bishop e6; pawns c5/d5/f5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c4 — pawn c5→c4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4 — queen f6→d4. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Rxb8 — rook a8→b8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb8 (queen c7→b8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qf4 — queen d4→f4. Opponent replies Qh8 (queen b8→h8).
  5. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen h8→a1, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kg2 — king h1→g2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, attraction, defensive move, endgame, promotion, very long. The key move is Qd4.

Position data

FEN: Rr4k1/1Pq2p2/B3bQpp/2pp1p2/8/6P1/7P/7K b - - 3 34

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