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

Rating 2266 · Expert · advantage, long, master, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2/d3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rook f8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/c5/e5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop c1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3 — queen d5→f3. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen b5→c4).
  3. Best move: Bb7 — bishop c8→b7. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen c4→e4).
  4. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, master, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qf3.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/p4pbp/6p1/1Qpqp3/8/3P2P1/PP3P1P/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 18

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