Chess Puzzle #Hc2x8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king d1; queen d5; rook f1; bishop c6; pawns a2/b2/c2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook d8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b6/c7/d4/d6/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen d5→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Be4 — bishop c6→e4. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen e3→e4, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen f5→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move Qxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p1p3b1/1pBp3p/3Q1p2/3p4/4q3/PPP5/3K1R2 b - - 1 28

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