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

Rating 1977 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks e1/f1; bishop e2; knight g3; pawns a2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe4+ — knight g3→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f6→g7).
  4. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/ppp2pkp/2n2np1/6Q1/4p3/2q3NP/P3BPP1/4RRK1 b - - 1 19

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