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

Rating 1545 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen f4; rooks d4/e1; bishop f3; pawns b2/e5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen e7; rooks b8/c5; knight c4; pawns a4/b5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook b8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d4→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/4qpk1/4p1p1/1pr1P2p/p1nR1Q1P/5BP1/1P3PK1/4R3 b - - 5 35

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