Chess Endgames

Chess Puzzle No. 303: A tense endgame: can you find the decisive continuation?

Posted on 29 October 2026 by Delphine D.

29
Oct

In May 2022, during a 3+0 blitz game between players rated around 2300, following a Rubinstein Opening, Black must respond to White's 53rd move. It's your turn to find the way forward.

EndgameIntermediateBlack to play

Black to play and win

Puzzle: Lichess open database (CC0) · Pieces: Cburnett, Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

See the solution explained

Qxg5+ captures White’s queen with check, and White has only one legal reply: Kxg5 recaptures the piece.

Black then pushes e3, a move that leaves White with seven legal replies but brings the pawn dangerously close to promotion.

In the real game, the player did find Qxg5+ followed by e3, exactly the sequence shown here; their opponent eventually lost on time, flag down. Worth remembering: in a queen endgame, trading queens at the right moment can turn a material edge into a technical win.

Fancy playing this puzzle on a real board? Discover our complete chess sets, with matching board and pieces.

Delphine D.

Delphine D. is the lead writer of the editorial team at Le Palais des Échecs, a shop specialising since 2008 in wooden chess sets, chessboards and backgammon sets. Her guides draw on the shop's hands-on experience: more than 5,000 customers advised and a catalogue built around the woods that make beautiful sets. Pale, very fine-grained boxwood set against ebony or rosewood for the pieces; maple, walnut and mahogany for the boards; palisander, olive wood or burr wood for exceptional models. Choosing a set for a child, a wedding or retirement gift, comparing woods, having a board engraved: she helps every reader find the set that suits them. Find out more about Delphine D. and the editorial team - Facebook - Pinterest - Youtube