Chess Puzzle #tYPk0 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2426 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/f6; knight g2; pawns a3/c4/e3/f2. Black: king c8; queen b6; rooks d8/h3; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/e4/e6/f7/g4/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc7 — queen b6→c7. Opponent replies Nf4 (knight g2→f4).
  3. Best move: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxg4 (bishop e2→g4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rg8 — rook d8→g8.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Qc7.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/pp3p2/1q2pB2/2b3p1/2P1p1p1/P3P2r/2Q1BPN1/R3K2R w KQ - 0 19

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