Chess Puzzle #53ZjT — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1835 · Advanced · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/f1; bishop c2; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/e3/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
  5. Best move: Qxc7 — queen h7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pbq1bp2/1p2pn1p/6p1/3N4/2NQP1P1/PPB3PP/3R1RK1 b - - 2 18

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