Chess Puzzle #IQ6qu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2014 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen g4; rooks h1/h6; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/f3/g5. Black: king g7; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; knights f5/f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf5 — bishop d3→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh4 — queen g4→h4. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh7 (knight f8→h7, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  6. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3rn2/pp3pk1/2pqp1pR/5nP1/3P2Q1/2PB1P2/PP3PK1/7R b - - 2 25

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