Chess Puzzle #T2lvh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2561 · Master · crushing, exposed king, fork, master, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks d1/e1; knight g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/d8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a4/b5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd5 (rook d8→d5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf6 — queen g5→f6. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen c5→d4).
  4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king h7→h6, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Rh1+ — rook e1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh5 (rook d5→h5).
  6. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h1→h5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, master, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1b3p2/4p1NP/1pqn2Q1/p7/8/PPP2PP1/2KRR3 b - - 0 22

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