Chess Puzzle #78cqw — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2111 · Expert · attraction, crushing, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; bishop d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks a8/e8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen e2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen g3→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Re7 (rook e8→e7).
  4. Best move: Rf1+ — rook d1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop g6→f5).
  5. Best move: Rxf5+ — rook f1→f5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  6. Best move: Qxe7 — queen c7→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p4ppp/2p3b1/1p6/3B4/2P3Q1/PP2q1PP/3R1RK1 b - - 3 22

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