Chess Puzzle #9ERgA — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2192 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks f1/h5; bishop a2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knights f7/g6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2 — queen d2→f2. Opponent replies Rxh5 (rook h8→h5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/2qb1nk1/p2pp1n1/1pp4R/4P3/P1NP3P/BPPQ2P1/5RK1 b - - 2 23

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