Chess Puzzle #Z6EDb — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2273 · Expert · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks c1/f1; bishop e5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g4/h2. Black: king c8; queen h7; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; knights d4/g8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop d6→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5+ — knight c3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc7 (bishop e5→c7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen g3→c7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
  5. Best move: Re1+ — rook f1→e1, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nr/pp3ppq/3b4/3PB3/3n2P1/2N3Q1/PP3P1P/2R2RK1 b - - 0 19

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