Chess Puzzle #fVV8I — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2319 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook f1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen a1; rooks a8/h8; knight g8; pawns c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight g8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3 — knight b1→c3. Opponent replies Rhb8 (rook h8→b8).
  3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
  4. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen b4→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook a8→b8, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxa1 — rook f1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/2pk1ppp/4p3/3p4/1Q6/4PN2/P4PPP/qN3RK1 b - - 1 16

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