Chess Puzzle #2fqxW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1263 · Intermediate · crushing, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; bishop b6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop g5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp5/1bn2n2/3q2Bp/3P4/5N2/PPQ2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 2 19

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