Chess Puzzle #Em8Mu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2136 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rook f1; bishop c1; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight a1; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg4 — bishop c8→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5 — queen h4→g5. Opponent replies Bf3+ (bishop g4→f3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen d4→d1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg2 — king h1→g2. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen d1→c1, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qxc1 — queen g5→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qg5.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/pp3p2/5Np1/2p1p2p/2Pq2PQ/8/PP5P/n1B2R1K b - - 2 22

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