Chess Puzzle #2ocWd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2166 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rook f1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook a8; bishop g6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c6→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop g2→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bf7 (bishop g6→f7).
  4. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop d5→f7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf7 (knight e5→f7, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f6→f7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  6. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f7→f6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp5p/2p2Qb1/3pn3/8/2N1q2P/PPP3B1/5R1K b - - 1 25

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