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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/d3; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/c7/d7/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb4 — knight d5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxg6 — bishop d3→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook f7→g7).
  4. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/p1pp1r1p/2p2ppQ/3n4/2P5/3B4/PB3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 15

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