Chess Puzzle #k9XM5 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1859 · Advanced · capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b4; rook a8; bishops a5/c8; knight h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen d2→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb2 — queen b4→b2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxh8+ (queen d4→h8, captures knight, gives check).
  3. Best move: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Opponent replies O-O (king e1→g1).
  4. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop a5→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen h8→h7, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qxe2 — queen b2→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxb2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2n/ppp2p1p/3p4/b7/1qP5/2N1P2P/PP1QBPP1/R3K2R w KQq - 0 16

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