Chess Puzzle #Wtu4J — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2454 · Master · advantage, collinear move, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights e5/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/d6; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/e4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop d6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rf5+ — rook f7→f5, gives check. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c5→c4).
  4. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen b3→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  5. Best move: Rxg5 — rook f5→g5, captures queen. Opponent replies Ba6 (bishop b7→a6).
  6. Best move: Qxa6 — queen c4→a6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, collinear move, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/pb3p1p/1p1b2p1/2p1N1N1/3Pp3/1QP1P3/PP4PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 3 17

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