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

Rating 1592 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook f1; bishop d3; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen a1; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/e7/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxb5+ — queen d5→b5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook d8→d7).
  4. Best move: Rd1 — rook f1→d1.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxb5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1p2pp1p/p4p2/3Q4/8/1P1B3P/P4PP1/qN3RK1 b kq - 0 14

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