Chess Puzzle #2VV4E — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2372 · Expert · clearance, crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights d5/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d6; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5 — queen d2→g5, captures queen. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh2 — rook h1→h2. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight d7→f6).
  4. Best move: Rdh1 — rook d1→h1.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Qxg5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1ppn1pp1/p2b3p/3Np1N1/2B1P3/6P1/PPPQ1PP1/2KR3R b - - 3 13

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