Chess Puzzle #5RPqH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop e3; pawns b6/e4/f6/g5/h4. Black: king b7; queen a3; rooks c8/f8; bishop d8; knight d7; pawns a4/d6/e5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3+ — queen a3→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen f3→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxb6 (bishop d8→b6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rb1 — rook d1→b1.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rb1r2/1k1n3p/1P1p1P2/4p1P1/p3P2P/q3BQ2/8/3R1RK1 b - - 0 34

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