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

Rating 1522 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen e5; rooks d1/d3; bishop f3; knight d5; pawns b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks e7/e8; bishop c8; knights f6/g5; pawns a6/b5/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen b6→f2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen e5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Nxe7 — knight d5→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf3+ (queen f2→f3, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook d3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b1r3/4r1k1/pq3n1p/1p1NQpn1/5P2/3R1BP1/1P5P/3R3K b - - 10 31

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