Chess Puzzle #A61Mw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1519 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; bishop a2; pawns b4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/f7; bishop d5; pawns b5/c4/e4/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfa7 — rook f7→a7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop a2→c4, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc4 (pawn b5→c4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxa7 — rook a1→a7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxa7 (rook a8→a7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qb8+ — queen e5→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  5. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen b8→a7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5r1p/2q3p1/1p1bQp2/1PpPp3/4P3/B4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 5 28

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