Chess Puzzle #Fa8pZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1454 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, fork, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook d1; bishop b5; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook e6; bishop c7; pawns a7/f4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg3 — pawn f4→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop c7→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e6→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen e5→e8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Bxe8 — bishop b5→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p1b2ppp/4r3/1BP1q3/5p2/3Q2P1/PP3P1P/3R2K1 b - - 1 24

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