Chess Puzzle #ici5v — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2410 · Master · advantage, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a7/f1; bishops b2/d7; knight c4; pawns b3/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g2; rooks b8/f8; bishop c5; knight f4; pawns b4/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook a7→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be7 — bishop c5→e7. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen d1→d2).
  3. Best move: Bh4+ — bishop e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  4. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen g2→f1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/R1pB1ppp/8/2bPp3/1pN1Pn2/1P3P2/1B4qP/3QKR2 w - - 4 19

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