Chess Puzzle #QcMu9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2318 · Expert · advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen e7; rooks d8/e1; bishop e3; knight f7; pawns d5/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c3; rook f8; bishops b5/g7; knight e8; pawns a6/b7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7 — queen e7→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe1+ (queen c3→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bg1 — bishop e3→g1. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen e1→e5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
  5. Best move: d7 — pawn d6→d7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3Rnr1k/1p2QNbp/p5p1/1b1PP3/8/2q1B3/6PP/4R2K b - - 4 28

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