Chess Puzzle #IVaFb — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1959 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/d2; bishops e2/g3; pawns a3/b2/c4/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king c8; queen c5; rooks d8/h8; knights d4/e5; pawns a7/b6/c6/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nexf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop e2→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxf3+ (knight d4→f3, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen c3→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d8→d2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qf4 — queen f3→f4. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen c5→d6).
  5. Best move: Qxd6 — queen f4→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook d2→d6, captures queen).
  6. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop g3→d6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/p5pp/1pp2p2/2q1n3/2PnP3/P1Q2PB1/1P1RBP1P/R5K1 b - - 2 19

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