Chess Puzzle #JT77s — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rook f1; knights a3/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b5/e6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e7→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g7→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f7→f6).
  4. Best move: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/4Q1kp/p3p1p1/1p3p2/8/N2q1N2/PP3PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 20

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