Chess Puzzle #94odX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1999 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, intermezzo, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen e6; rooks d1/d3; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen c2; rooks c8/f2; bishop e5; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop e5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc8 (king b8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook d3→c3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, intermezzo, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1kr5/pp4p1/4Q3/3pb3/N7/2PR3P/PPq2rP1/K2R4 b - - 2 30

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