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

Rating 2341 · Expert · crushing, endgame, fork, intermezzo, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook e1; bishop f6; pawns a2/b4/e3/f4/g5/h2. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks e8/f7; pawns a6/b5/g4/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f7→f6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen b6→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen d7→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, intermezzo, long. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/5r1k/pq3Bp1/1p1Q2Pp/1P3Pp1/4P3/P6P/4R1K1 b - - 0 44

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