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

Rating 1307 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks c3/h1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen b4; rooks d8/h8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c3→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king c8→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen d2→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp2ppp/8/3Pp3/1q1nB3/2R5/PP1Q1PPP/4K2R b K - 4 16

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