Chess Puzzle #VZP84 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1980 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks d1/g2; bishop c3; pawns a2/b3/c4/f3. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks d8/h4; bishop f6; pawns a7/c6/d6/e5/f4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen f7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f5→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rh1+ (rook h4→h1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf2 — king g1→f2. Opponent replies Qh4+ (queen h5→h4, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxh4 — queen f6→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4qp1/2pp1b2/4pQ2/2P2p1r/1PB2P2/P5R1/3R2K1 b - - 2 35

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