Chess Puzzle #56w4y — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1123 · Beginner · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; knight c2; pawns b2/c5/f2/f3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/b3; bishop g7; pawns a5/b7/c6/e5/f4/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen g5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen e2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxb3 — queen c4→b3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qh3+ (queen h4→h3, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p4b1/2p3pp/p1P1p1q1/5p2/1r3P2/1PN1QP2/R3RK2 b - - 0 28

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