Chess Puzzle #DzSSs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1586 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook d8; bishop h3; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop h3→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen c2→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen e6→f5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Nxf5 — knight e7→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/ppp2ppp/4q3/2pN4/2P2P2/1P2P1Pb/P1Q4P/R5K1 b - - 4 21

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