Chess Puzzle #1hpD0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1167 · Beginner · attraction, crushing, deflection, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f7; rooks c1/h1; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/e5/f4/g2/h5. Black: king d7; queen b4; rooks b8/h8; knight e7; pawns a5/d5/e6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen b4→a4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king d7→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen f7→e7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/3knQ1p/4p3/p2pP2P/Nq3P2/1P6/P5P1/1KR4R b - - 1 23

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