Chess Puzzle #j40k9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2299 · Expert · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook c6; bishop a6; pawns a3/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook d8; bishop f8; pawns a7/e5/f4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen d6→c6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d8→d2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop a6→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  4. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop f8→e7).
  5. Best move: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, very long. The key move dxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1bk1/p6p/B1Rq2p1/3Pp3/4Pp2/P6P/3Q1PP1/6K1 b - - 5 29

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