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

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · equality, fork, long, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/f7; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/h2. Black: king e7; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights d4/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe1+ — queen e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen d1→e1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king e7→f7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qf2+ — queen e1→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight g8→f6).
  4. Best move: Qxd4 — queen f2→d4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, opening. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2bnr/ppppkBpp/8/4q3/3n4/8/PPPP3P/RNBQR1K1 b - - 1 10

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