Chess Puzzle #Icb0m — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2512 · Master · equality, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rook f1; bishop c2; pawn b2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rook a7; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a6/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook a7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen f6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  5. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen h6→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b4k/r5p1/pq1p1nQp/8/8/8/1PB4K/5R2 b - - 3 42

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