Chess Puzzle #kVU82 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2390 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/g1; bishop c1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/g4. Black: king c8; queen h2; rooks d8/e8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5+ — queen e4→f5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d8→d7. Opponent replies Qf2 (queen f5→f2).
  3. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d7→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd1 (king e1→d1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen h2→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move is Rd7.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/pp3ppp/2n5/8/4Q1P1/2P5/PP2N2q/R1B1K1R1 w Q - 1 17

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