Chess Puzzle #4Ybu6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen a4; rook d6; bishop f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2. Black: king g7; queen h4; rook e8; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/c5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8 — queen a4→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qh1+ (queen h4→h1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc2 — king d1→c2. Opponent replies Qxg2+ (queen h1→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kb3 — king c2→b3. Opponent replies Nd2+ (knight f3→d2, gives check).
5. Best move: Ka4 — king b3→a4. Opponent replies Qe4+ (queen g2→e4, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e8→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, hanging piece, very long. The key move Qxe8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/p5k1/1p1R3p/2p1n3/Q6q/2P2B2/PP4P1/3K4 b - - 4 33

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