Chess Puzzle #QGTIF — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2556 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook d1; knight c5; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook a8; bishop e5; pawns a6/b5/c4/c7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb2 — bishop e5→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook a8→d8).
  3. Best move: Ne6 — knight c5→e6. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen f7→e6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: dxc7 — pawn d6→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd1+ (rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check).
  5. Best move: Qxd1 — queen f3→d1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop b2→d4).
  6. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is d6.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p2qpp/p4p2/1pNPb3/2p5/P4QP1/1P3P1P/3R2K1 b - - 5 22

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