Chess Puzzle #Ue9hd — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2445 · Master · advantage, deflection, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook a1; bishop c2; pawns a3/b4/d6/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f6; queen e8; rooks a8/e5; bishop c8; pawns a6/b5/d7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg8 — queen e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4 — queen d3→d4. Opponent replies Bb7 (bishop c8→b7).
  3. Best move: Re1 — rook a1→e1. Opponent replies Re8 (rook a8→e8).
  4. Best move: f4 — pawn f3→f4. Opponent replies gxf4 (pawn g5→f4, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen d4→f4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f6→g7).
  6. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1q3/3p1p2/p2P1k1p/1p2r1p1/1P6/P2Q1P1P/2B3P1/R5K1 b - - 1 26

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