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

Rating 2717 · Master · advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king b2; queen g4; rooks a1/d2; bishop g2; pawns b3/e5/h4. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks c3/c8; pawns a6/b4/d5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5 — queen b5→c5. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen g4→d1).
  3. Best move: Qe3 — queen c5→e3.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Qc5.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5p2/p5p1/1q1pP3/1p4QP/1Pr5/1K1R2B1/R7 w - - 3 36

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