Chess Puzzle #RT4X1 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2689 · Master · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/h2. Black: king f8; queen g2; rooks e8/h8; bishops c5/h3; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh2 — queen g2→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen e2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh1 — rook f1→h1. Opponent replies e4 (pawn e5→e4).
  4. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxf2+ (bishop c5→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Ke2 — king e1→e2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qf3+.

Position data

FEN: 4rk1r/ppp3pp/2p5/2b1p3/8/3P3b/PPPNQPqP/R1B1KR2 b Q - 4 12

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