Chess Puzzle #16ltK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2387 · Expert · advantage, clearance, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop c7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks e8/g5; bishop b4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook g5→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen e2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Re2 — rook e1→e2.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/ppB3pp/2n5/6r1/1b2p3/2N4P/PPP1QqP1/R3R2K b - - 3 21

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