Chess Puzzle #Zc6Lm — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2672 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook h3; bishop a1; knight e3; pawns c6/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c8; rook f8; bishops b5/c7; knight e7; pawns d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Ng4 — knight e3→g4. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  4. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight e7→f5).
  5. Best move: Qg7+ — queen h6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight f5→g7, captures queen).
  6. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  7. Best move: fxg7+ — pawn f6→g7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move fxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q2r2/2b1npkp/2P1p1p1/1b1pP3/5P1Q/4N2R/6PP/B5K1 b - - 3 32

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