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

Rating 2127 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/f3; bishops d3/g3; pawns a4/b3/d4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c8/f6; bishop b7; pawns a6/c5/e6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen c2→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7 — queen c6→d7. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen c5→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bxc8 — bishop b7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd7.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b4pp/p1q1pr2/2p2p2/P2P1P2/1P1B1RBP/2Q3P1/2R3K1 w - - 3 31

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