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

Rating 2198 · Expert · deflection, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; pawns b2/b5/c2/d4/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight e4; pawns b6/c7/d5/e7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen d7→b5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a3→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: e6+ — pawn e5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king d7→e6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxd8 — queen a8→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop f8→g7).
  5. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d8→c7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/2pqp2p/1p4p1/1P1pPp2/3Pn3/Q3P3/1PP3PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 1 15

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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