Chess Puzzle #FePM4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2345 · Expert · crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks d3/f1; bishop d8; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b8; rook h8; bishop b7; knight e2; pawns a6/b4/d5/e6/f3/f7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook d3→f3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen d1→e2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qf4 — queen b8→f4. Opponent replies Bg5 (bishop d8→g5).
  4. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop b7→f3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen e2→f3, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen f4→f3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1q1Bk2r/1b3p2/p3p3/3p3p/Np6/2PR1p1P/PP2nP2/3Q1R1K w k - 0 28

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