Chess Puzzle #06sCu — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; knight b5; pawns a5/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king e7; queen c6; rooks a6/h8; bishop b6; pawns b7/c7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa5 — rook a6→a5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen a4→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
3. Best move: Rxa5 — rook a1→a5, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxa5 (bishop b6→a5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxa5 — queen b4→a5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb4+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1pp1kp1p/rbq1p1p1/PN1p4/Q2P4/4P1P1/2P2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 6 20

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