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

Rating 2280 · Expert · advantage, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook d1; bishop h4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen a7; rooks a8/f7; bishops d4/e6; pawns a6/c6/e5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Raf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen h5→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rf1+ (rook f7→f1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook f1→d1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qd6+ — queen e5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
  5. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d6→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/q2k1r2/p1p1b3/4p2Q/3bN2B/7P/PPP3P1/3R3K b - - 3 29

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