Chess Puzzle #Fad5z — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2043 · Expert · equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d2; queen h6; rook e1; bishop d3; knights c5/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/g7; bishop g4; knight c6; pawns a7/b4/d5/e7/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook g7→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h6→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook h7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p3p1rp/2nq1p1Q/2Np2pP/1p1P2b1/3B1N2/PPPK2P1/4R3 b - - 6 22

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