Chess Puzzle #0AuDZ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2271 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishop g3; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/c3/f4/h4. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks c8/d8; bishop e5; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight d5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  4. Best move: Rd7 — rook d8→d7. Opponent replies Ne2+ (knight f4→e2, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kg2 — king g1→g2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/pp3p2/4p1p1/3nbqNp/5P1P/P1P3B1/1P1Q4/3R1RK1 b - - 0 26

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