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

Rating 1488 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook f1; bishops g2/h6; pawns b3/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d3/f8; knight e5; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6 — queen h4→f6. Opponent replies Qc5+ (queen c7→c5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen c5→f8).
  4. Best move: Bxf8 — bishop h6→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf6.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2q2p1p/p5pB/1p2n3/4P2Q/1P1r2P1/6BP/5RK1 b - - 1 28

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