Chess Puzzle #VdeSq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2390 · Expert · advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, exposed king, promotion.

Position

White: king f1; queen a2; rook d1; knight g3; pawns b4/c6/d7/g2. Black: king f8; queen g7; rook f7; bishop f2; pawns g4/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg3+ — bishop f2→g3, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1. Opponent replies Bh2+ (bishop g3→h2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen g7→h6).
  4. Best move: d8=Q+ — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen a2→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, exposed king, promotion, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/3P1rq1/2P3p1/8/1P4p1/6N1/Q4bP1/3R1K2 b - - 1 40

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