Chess Puzzle #3O4as — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1167 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king h2; queen b5; rook d5; pawns f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a1; pawns e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra2 — rook a1→a2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen b5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen c7→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen e8→d7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2q4p/6p1/1Q1R1p2/4p3/6PP/5P1K/r7 b - - 0 40

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