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

Rating 2553 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishops a6/d4; knight f3; pawns a2/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; bishops e7/g4; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop g4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc6 — queen a4→c6. Opponent replies Nd6 (knight e4→d6).
  3. Best move: Bc5 — bishop d4→c5. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
  4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc6.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/p3bppp/Bp6/3p3q/QP1Bn1b1/5N2/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 3 18

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