Chess Puzzle #2IgFZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1687 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king b2; queen c1; rook e1; bishop b3; pawns a4/b5/d3/f4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook f8; bishop d7; knight d5; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 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 Bxc8 (bishop d7→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen b4→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop b3→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p2b1ppp/1p6/1P1n4/Pq3PP1/1B1P3P/1K6/2Q1R3 b - - 0 26

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