Chess Puzzle #4Kpcp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook e1; bishops d3/f4; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/e8; bishop e7; pawns a7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop c5→f8).
  4. Best move: Bd6 — bishop f4→d6.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p3bppp/2p5/3p3P/5B1q/3BQ3/P1P2PP1/4R1K1 b - - 4 27

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