Chess Puzzle #3X7zC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1776 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, intermezzo, long, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e2; queen d3; bishop e7; knight b6; pawns a5/b2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a7; rook c6; bishop g7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb6 — rook c6→b6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen a7→b6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxb6 — queen d8→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, long, trapped piece. The key move is Qd8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/qp2Bpb1/pNr1p2p/P5p1/7P/3Q4/1P2KPP1/8 b - - 0 28

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