Chess Puzzle #DZ7OR — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2614 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g3; queen f3; rooks f4/h2; bishop d2; pawns d4/e3/g5/h6. Black: king h7; queen b2; rooks e8/h8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen b2→b3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f4→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g6→f5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen f3→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies Rxe3+ (rook e8→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kh4 — king g3→h4.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2r/1p3p1k/p1n3pP/3p1pP1/3P1R2/4PQK1/1q1B3R/8 b - - 2 40

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