Chess Puzzle #BW4ME — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1610 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g2; queen b5; rooks c1/e1; bishop f2; pawns a2/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e6/e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen f6→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook e6→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rcc8 — rook c1→c8.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, X-ray attack. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4pbp/1p2rqp1/1Q6/6P1/5P2/P4BKP/2R1R3 b - - 3 25

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