Chess Puzzle #3W6d3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1557 · Intermediate · defensive move, equality, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rooks d1/h1; pawns a3/c3/e5/f3/g2/g7. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook a8; bishop d7; knights c2/e2; pawns a7/b7/e6/f5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf4+ — queen e3→f4, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g3 — pawn g2→g3. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen f4→f3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, master, middlegame, short. The key move is g3.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp1b2P1/4p1Q1/4Pp2/8/P1P1qP2/2n1n1PK/3R3R b - - 4 27

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