Chess Puzzle #M1KMb — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2269 · Expert · crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks d1/f1; bishop c4; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8 — rook d1→d8. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qe7 — queen f7→e7.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp3ppp/2p1p3/4N2Q/2B1pP2/2q5/P1P3PP/3R1R1K b - - 1 14

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