Chess Puzzle #4Thox — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1334 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks d1/e1; bishop c4; knight f4; pawns a2/b3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d7/e8; bishops b7/f6; pawns a6/c5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop f6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e4→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d6→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1b1rpp1p/p2q1bp1/2pP4/2B1QN2/1P5P/P4PP1/3RR1K1 b - - 7 27

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