Chess Puzzle #0gilg — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1537 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rook f1; bishop b6; knights d5/e3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook f8; bishops e6/g7; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d7→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p1qppbp/pB1pb1p1/3N4/1P2n3/P3N2P/5PP1/2Q2RK1 b - - 0 21

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