Chess Puzzle #yV1jv — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2400 · Master · crushing, deflection, intermezzo, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook d2; bishop f6; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/e4/e5. Black: king e8; queen e6; rooks a8/g8; bishop b6; pawns a6/c6/c7/f7/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook g8→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen e2→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook g6→f6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  4. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e6→f6, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d2→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e7→d7, captures rook).
  6. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h8→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, intermezzo, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k1r1/2p2p2/pbp1qB2/4P1pp/N3P3/1P6/P2RQ2K/8 b q - 1 30

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