Chess Puzzle #iRi50 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2336 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks e1/f7; knight b7; pawns b4/c3/e5/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen a7; rooks b8/g6; knight h4; pawns e6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re3 — rook e1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a7→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qf1 — queen a1→f1. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen c7→c6).
  4. Best move: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Qa1+.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/qNQ2Rp1/4p1r1/4P2p/1P5n/2P3PP/5P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 30

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