Chess Puzzle #F6Xsz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1427 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rook e1; bishop e4; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c6; knight g4; pawns a5/b7/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen c5→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1p5p/2b3p1/p1Qp2N1/4BPn1/2N3P1/PP5P/4R1K1 b - - 0 27

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