Chess Puzzle #UtCjp — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1820 · Advanced · equality, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks d4/f1; knight g6; pawns a2/b3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks c7/h5; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f2→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
  3. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f1→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d7→c6).
  4. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f8→e8, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf8+.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/pbr2pp1/1p2p1N1/3pq2r/3R4/1P2P3/P4QPP/5RK1 b - - 0 25

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