Chess Puzzle #pzmE1 — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1941 · Advanced · clearance, equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks b1/f1; bishops c4/h4; knights d2/f3; pawns a4/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c3/c8; knights b4/g8; pawns a7/b7/d4/d7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen c6→g6).
  4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen h5→e5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1nr/pp1p2pp/2q2p2/4p3/PnBpP2B/1Pb2N2/2PN1PPP/1R1Q1RK1 b kq - 2 11

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