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

Rating 2348 · Expert · advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen c6; rook f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h4. Black: king c8; queen f4; rooks d7/h8; knight d3; pawns e6/g6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook d7→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen c6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight d3→e5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qa4+ — queen a8→a4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/3r2p1/2Q1p1p1/7p/3P1q1P/3n1N2/PP4P1/1K3R2 b - - 0 23

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