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

Rating 1734 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook e1; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; knight e7; pawns a7/d5/e6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen b4→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight e7→c6).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p2kn3/4p2p/3pq1p1/1Q6/1P5P/P4PP1/1N2R1K1 b - - 4 21

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