Chess Puzzle #ovoIm — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2474 · Master · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen f5; knight g5; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rooks a8/e8; pawns a7/b5/c4/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook e8→e1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qd5 — queen f7→d5. Opponent replies Rh1+ (rook e1→h1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg3 — king h2→g3. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen a1→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kh4 — king g3→h4. Opponent replies Qxd4+ (queen c3→d4, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d5→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p1p2ppp/8/1p3QN1/2pP4/2P4P/P4PPK/q7 b - - 1 23

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