Chess Puzzle #1rJa1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1190 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks e1/e4; bishop b2; knights d2/e5; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; knights g6/h4; pawns a6/b6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen f4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight e5→g6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e4→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/2p2ppp/pp1b2n1/4N3/1PQPRqPn/P6P/1B1N1P2/4R1K1 b - - 8 24

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