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

Rating 1424 · Intermediate · attack on f2/f7, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king f1; queen f5; rook a1; bishops b3/f4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e4/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king e8→f7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxd8 — queen c8→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1qkbnr/pp3p2/2p5/5Q1p/3PPB2/1B6/PPP4P/RN3K2 b kq - 1 12

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