Chess Puzzle #mtX0B — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2137 · Expert · crushing, endgame, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king a2; queen a7; rook d6; pawns b2/b4/e3/h6. Black: king h8; queen c4; rook f8; pawns e4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka3 (king a2→a3).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Ka4 (king a3→a4).
  4. Best move: Qa1+ — queen c1→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king a4→b5).
  5. Best move: Qxa7 — queen a1→a7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, skewer, very long. The key move is Qc2+.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/Q6p/3R2pP/8/1Pq1p3/4P3/KP6/8 w - - 6 36

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