Chess Puzzle #17wo4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1319 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen h4; rooks a1/h6; bishop d3; pawns a3/c3/c4/d5/e5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks f8/g5; bishop c8; knight h7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h6→h7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h4→g5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/p5qn/1p1p3R/2pPPpr1/2P3PQ/P1PB3P/7K/R7 b - - 1 29

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