Chess Puzzle #7RjE3 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2678 · Master · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook e1; knight f5; pawns c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen b2; rook d8; bishop d6; pawns a7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc5 — bishop d6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3 — queen f3→g3. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qe5 — queen g3→e5. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen b2→c3, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qg3.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/p1p2ppp/3b4/5N2/8/2P2Q1P/1q3PP1/4R2K b - - 3 30

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