Chess Puzzle #CQXjC — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2353 · Expert · crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/e4; bishop f4; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f6; queen f7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen b4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
  3. Best move: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
  4. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g6→h7).
  5. Best move: Nxf7 — knight e5→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: rnb2b1r/ppp2qpp/3p1k2/8/1Q2RB2/2PP4/PP1N1PPP/R5K1 b - - 5 14

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