Chess Puzzle #1m9Gz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1852 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/e6; bishops c1/c4; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen b4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ba3+ — bishop c1→a3, gives check. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c6→c5).
  4. Best move: Bxc5+ — bishop a3→c5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p4ppp/2p1R3/1p6/1QB4q/1P6/P4PPP/R1B3K1 b - - 0 16

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