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

Rating 1820 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight d4; pawns b3/c2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/b8; pawns a7/c3/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3 — queen a5→a3. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen h6→c1).
  3. Best move: Rxb3+ — rook b8→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxb3 (pawn c2→b3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxb3+ — queen a3→b3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Rxb3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/p3pp1p/3p2pQ/q7/3N2P1/1Pp5/2P4P/1K1R1B1R w - - 1 21

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