Chess Puzzle #5BhjM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1492 · Intermediate · advantage, clearance, endgame, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook a1; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/c2/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d5/f8; pawns a6/b5/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen d3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6p1/p6p/qp1r4/3pN3/1P1Q1P1P/P1P3P1/R6K b - - 6 33

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