Chess Puzzle #360wx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1388 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks d1/d3; bishop e3; pawns a2/c2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks d8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen e8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c4→f7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d3→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3rqrk1/pp2p1bp/2p3p1/5p2/2Q5/2PRB3/P1P2PPP/3R2K1 b - - 1 18

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