Chess Puzzle #pL6QX — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2750 · Master · advantage, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king d1; queen e7; rook a1; bishops b5/c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/d6/g2. Black: king c8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/f4/f7/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Bxe8 — bishop d7→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qh1+ (queen h4→h1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke2 — king d1→e2. Opponent replies Qxg2+ (queen h1→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Nf2 — knight e4→f2. Opponent replies f3+ (pawn f4→f3, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kd1 — king e2→d1. Opponent replies Qg1+ (queen g2→g1, gives check).
  7. Best move: Qe1 — queen e7→e1.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1k4r/pp1nQp1p/3P1n2/1BpP2p1/4Np1q/8/PPP3P1/R1BK4 b - - 9 16

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