Chess Puzzle #BKq9l — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1845 · Advanced · attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rook c1; knights c2/f5; pawns a2/b2/d3/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks c8/f8; knight d5; pawns a7/b4/d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook c8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd5 — queen f3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen c5→d5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p4ppp/8/2qnpNP1/1p1p3P/3P1Q2/PPN2P2/1KR5 b - - 0 26

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