Chess Puzzle #e6K7Q — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2181 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook f7; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook c8; bishops c5/e4; pawns a6/b5/d6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be3 — bishop c5→e3. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen d2→e3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen h4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Bd1 (bishop e2→d1).
  4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e1→e3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/5Rp1/p2p3p/1pb5/4b2q/P1N5/1PPQB1PP/2K5 w - - 1 28

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