Chess Puzzle #CpHCE — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2524 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; knight g5; pawns a4/b3/c4/d3/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/e8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b6/c5/c6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop e6→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen c7→g3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: exf7+ — pawn e6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop b2→g7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move exf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/p1q1ppb1/1pp1b1p1/2p1P1Np/P1P4P/1P1P2Q1/1B3PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 4 21

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