Chess Puzzle #3Ty8V — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1263 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; knight a5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks e6/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb6 — rook e6→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen f3→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b6→b8).
  3. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen a8→a6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxa6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2bnr/2pq1ppp/p3r3/Np6/3P4/2P2Q2/PP1K2PP/R6R b - - 3 17

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