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

Rating 2797 · Master · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen d5; rooks b1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/e5/f2/h4. Black: king d8; queen f4; rook f8; bishop a3; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d3/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5+ — queen d5→a5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Opponent replies Qxa3 (queen a5→a3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qg4 — queen f4→g4. Opponent replies Qxf8+ (queen a3→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is b6.

Position data

FEN: 3k1r2/pp1n3p/8/3QP3/3P1q1P/bPPp4/P2N1P2/1R2K2R w K - 1 20

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