Chess Puzzle #JQ5d0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2267 · Expert · advantage, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks b1/b5; bishop e3; knight f5; pawns a4/c2/d5/f3/g2. Black: king c8; queen c3; rooks d8/e8; bishop f6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g3/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen c3→d3, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight f5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
  3. Best move: Nxe8+ — knight d6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Bf4+ — bishop e3→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c7→d8).
  5. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/pp1n1p2/5b2/1R1P1N1p/P7/2qQBPp1/2P3P1/1R4K1 b - - 2 27

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