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

Rating 2206 · Expert · attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen b8; rook b6; knight d6; pawns a4/b2/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f7; queen e7; rook c7; bishop f8; knight d4; pawns e5/f4/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king f7→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen b8→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen e7→c7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ne8+ — knight d6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
  4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e8→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1Q3b2/2r1qk2/1R1N2p1/4p2p/P2nPp2/5P1P/1P4PK/8 b - - 1 35

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