Chess Puzzle #tYGQ5 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2765 · Master · crushing, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen f7; rook a1; bishop e8; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/h2. Black: king e7; queen h1; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/e5/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd6 — king e7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen f7→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
  3. Best move: Nd2 — knight b1→d2. Opponent replies Qf3+ (queen h1→f3, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nxf3 — knight d2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb1Bb1r/ppp1kQ1p/5p2/4p3/3Pp3/8/PPP1KP1P/RN5q b - - 1 12

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