Chess Puzzle #yD1Ri — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2333 · Expert · crushing, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen a8; rook h1; bishops f1/g3; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; bishop a4; knight f8; pawns a7/d4/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop g3→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen a5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nd2 (knight f3→d2).
  3. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  4. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop a4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king e2→f3).
  5. Best move: Bc6+ — bishop b5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen a8→c6, captures bishop).
  6. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c1→c6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q4nk1/p4ppp/4p3/q7/b2p4/2P2NB1/P4PPP/4KB1R w K - 0 19

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