Chess Puzzle #j0jfU — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2245 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks b1/f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/d5/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d6/g8; bishop e5; pawns a6/b7/c6/e4/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh6 — rook d6→h6. Opponent replies cxb7+ (pawn c6→b7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Opponent replies Qc8+ (queen c2→c8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook g8→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies bxc8=Q+ (pawn b7→c8, captures rook, promotes to queen, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxc8 — king b8→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rh6.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/1p3p1p/p1pr4/3Pb2q/4p3/4P1P1/PPQN1P1P/1R3R1K w - - 2 20

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