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

Rating 2727 · Master · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishop b3; pawns a3/b4/d6/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks e7/e8; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc1 — queen f4→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen d1→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp2rppp/3P4/5b2/1P3q2/PB3P2/5P1P/2RQR1K1 b - - 0 21

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