Chess Puzzle #1ZkRh — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 939 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rook e1; knight h2; pawns b2/c3/d4/f5/g4/h4. Black: king g7; queen f4; rooks c8/h8; knight b6; pawns b4/f6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen f4→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re7+ — rook e1→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen c7→e7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen b7→e7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/1Q4k1/1n3p1p/5Pp1/1p1P1qPP/2P5/1P5N/4R1K1 b - - 1 35

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