Chess Puzzle #dVeZ3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2145 · Expert · deflection, equality, exposed king, middlegame, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks f1/g2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/g4. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks g6/g8; bishop d6; pawns a5/b4/c5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook g8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re2+ — rook g2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f5→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop d6→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king d8→d7).
  5. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king d7→d6).
  6. Best move: Rxc7 — rook f7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, exposed king, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4k1r1/2q4p/3b2r1/p1p2Q2/1pP3P1/3P4/PP4R1/5RK1 b - - 0 33

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