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

Rating 2261 · Expert · advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks b1/h1; knight g3; pawns a2/c2/d5/e3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishops b7/g7; pawns a7/b6/c6/d6/e7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5 — knight g3→f5. Opponent replies Rxf5 (rook f7→f5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  4. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen h7→f5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/pb2prb1/1ppp2Q1/3P4/8/4P1N1/P1P2PP1/1R2K2R b K - 0 20

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