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

Rating 2316 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/f1; pawns a5/b2/c4/e5/f6/g4. Black: king e8; queen h3; rook f8; bishops b7/d8; pawns a6/c5/c7/d4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6+ — queen f5→g6, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Opponent replies Qg8+ (queen g6→g8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Opponent replies Qxf7+ (queen g8→f7, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kc8 — king d7→c8.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Rf7.

Position data

FEN: 3bkr2/1bp5/p4P2/P1p1PQ2/2Pp2P1/7q/1P6/R4RK1 w - - 0 40

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