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

Rating 2301 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king a1; queen d4; rooks d1/f2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f3/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/b8; knight c2; pawns d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook f2→c2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2 — queen c7→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe7+ (knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight e7→c6).
  4. Best move: Qxc6 — queen c2→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd6+ (queen d4→d6, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Qxd6 — queen c6→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/2q1pp1p/3p2p1/3N4/3QP1PP/5P2/PPn2R2/K2R4 w - - 10 24

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