Chess Puzzle #e5ZtH — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2735 · Master · crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, very long.

Position

White: king d3; queen b6; rook d4; pawns a4/b3/c6/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d1; rook d8; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king d3→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen d1→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e4→f4).
  3. Best move: Rxd4+ — rook d8→d4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b6→d4, captures rook).
  4. Best move: e5+ — pawn e6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d4→e5, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: g5+ — pawn g7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg5+ (queen e5→g5, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: hxg5+ — pawn h6→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Rxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5pp1/1QP1p2p/p7/P2R4/1P1K1P2/5P1P/3q4 w - - 9 42

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