Chess Puzzle #f5cak — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2179 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/f2; bishop b3; pawns a3/b2/c3/f4/f5/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d7/d8; knight d5; pawns a5/b5/e4/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d4→d5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d6→d5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd5 (rook d7→d5, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rd2 — rook f2→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/3r2pp/3qp3/pp1n1P2/3QpP2/PBP5/1P3R1P/3R2K1 b - - 0 25

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