Chess Puzzle #7Uixl — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1540 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks a1/b1; bishop f4; knight c3; pawns a3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/g8; bishops c4/c5; pawns a7/c6/c7/d7/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook g8→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b1→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb8 (king c8→b8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen f6→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2r1/p1pp1p1p/2p2Q2/2b4q/2b1PB2/P1N5/2P2PPP/RR4K1 b - - 1 22

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