Chess Puzzle #sQU9C — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2643 · Master · advantage, collinear move, deflection, endgame, exposed king, quiet move.

Position

White: king f3; queen d4; rook d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c4/f4. Black: king g8; queen h1; rook e8; pawns a7/c6/d6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf2 — king f3→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1 — rook e8→e1. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qg1+ — queen h1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Rf1+ — rook e1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxd4 — queen g1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, collinear move, deflection, endgame, exposed king, quiet move, very long. The key move is Re1.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4p1p/2pp2p1/8/2PQ1P2/1PN2K2/P2R4/7q w - - 8 33

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