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

Rating 1945 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c6; bishops b7/e5; pawns a7/b6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen d8→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
  4. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move is Qd8+.

Position data

FEN: 8/pb5k/1pq3p1/4b1Np/8/2P5/PP1Q1PPP/6K1 b - - 1 33

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