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

Rating 2685 · Master · advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook f1; bishop a4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rook a8; bishop c8; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8 — queen d4→d8. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen e7→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bb3+ — bishop a4→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Qd5 (queen d8→d5).
  4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Qd8.

Position data

FEN: r1b1nk2/pp2q1pp/2p5/4p3/B2Q4/2N5/PPP3PP/5RK1 b - - 1 16

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