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

Rating 1444 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook d1; bishop e4; knight d5; pawns a2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks c7/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen b2→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen e5→c7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen c5→c7, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight d5→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/2r2p1p/p5p1/2qNp3/4B2P/8/PQ3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 2 26

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