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

Rating 2413 · Master · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, intermezzo, long, promotion.

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; bishop e5; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/e6/g2/h4. Black: king g6; queen f1; rook f8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen f1→f2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen f2→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: exf8=N+ — pawn e7→f8, captures rook, promotes to knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
  4. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop e5→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, intermezzo, long, promotion, sacrifice, underpromotion. The key move exf8=N+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pp6/2p1P1k1/3nB1Np/1P1Q3P/P7/6PK/5q2 b - - 4 39

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