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

Rating 2216 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king d2; queen c7; rook h1; bishops c4/e3; knight c2; pawns c3/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g7; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f6; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/d7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight g8→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen c7→e7, captures pawn. Opponent replies d5 (pawn d6→d5).
  4. Best move: Bd4 — bishop e3→d4.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3nr/ppQpppkp/5bp1/4P3/2B2PP1/2P1B3/1qNK3P/7R b - - 2 19

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