Chess Puzzle #O5K1t — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2387 · Expert · crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; knights c3/g4; pawns a4/b2/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights e7/e8; pawns a5/b7/c7/d3/d6/f5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king g7→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ng7 (knight e8→g7).
  3. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f7→f6).
  4. Best move: g4 — pawn g2→g4.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqnr2/1pp1n1k1/3p3Q/p2P1p2/P1P3N1/2Np3P/1P3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 1 18

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