Chess Puzzle #3pnHL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1354 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g2. Black: king b8; queen h4; rooks d8/g8; bishop g3; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf4 — bishop g3→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf4+ — bishop c1→f4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen h4→f4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen f3→f4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf4+ (knight d5→f4, captures queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2r1/pp5p/2p1p3/3n4/4NP1q/2P2Qb1/PP2K1P1/R1B2R2 b - - 6 28

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