Chess Puzzle #iOaD8 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2514 · Master · crushing, endgame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen d6; rook c8; bishop g3; pawns a3/d4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen e2; bishop d5; knight g6; pawns b5/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen d6→d8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop g3→f4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop d5→f3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qh8+ (queen d8→h8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg6 — king h7→g6. Opponent replies Qxh6+ (queen h8→h6, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/5ppk/2pQ2np/1p1b4/3P4/P4PBP/4q1PK/8 w - - 1 40

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