Chess Puzzle #pj1Xt — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2441 · Master · crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king d2; queen e3; rooks f1/f2; bishop g6; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d8/f8; bishops b7/c5; pawns a6/b5/e5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop g6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen e3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen c6→g6).
  4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop c5→f8).
  5. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f2→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen g6→f7, captures rook).
  6. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1b3p1p/p1q3B1/1pb1p3/3N4/2P1Q3/PP1K1R1P/5R2 b - - 0 26

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