Chess Puzzle #V0ahE — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2228 · Expert · defensive move, equality, fork, middlegame, trapped piece, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks b1/f1; bishop g4; knights g3/h6; pawns b2/c3/d4/e4/g2/h5. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight f4; pawns b3/c4/d6/e5/g6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures rook. Opponent replies Nhf5+ (knight h6→f5, gives check).
  3. Best move: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e3→f4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: fxg4 — pawn f5→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nf5+ (knight g3→f5, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg4+ (queen f4→g4, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kh8 — king g7→h8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, fork, middlegame, trapped piece, very long. The key move exf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1b4k1/1q1p2pN/4p2P/2pPPnB1/1pP1Q1N1/1P4P1/1R3RK1 w - - 1 32

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