Chess Puzzle #3OSc4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1530 · Intermediate · attraction, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks d1/f4; bishop b1; pawns a4/b2/c4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks d8/f8; knights d6/e5; pawns a6/b7/d3/e4/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h6→g7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxg4+ — rook f4→g4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1p4qp/p2n1p1Q/4nP2/P1P1pR2/3p4/1P4PP/1B1R2K1 b - - 2 26

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