Chess Puzzle #jZlEP — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1853 · Advanced · equality, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rook f1; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook c8; bishops d7/g7; pawns a7/b7/d5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen d6→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
  4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d5→e4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: 2rq2k1/pp1b2b1/3Q3p/3p4/4P2N/3P4/PP4PP/5R1K b - - 0 24

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