Chess Puzzle #A7Yxo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops d3/f2; pawns a3/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b2/f8; bishops a2/g7; pawns a7/e5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa2 — rook a1→a2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxa2 (rook b2→a2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb3+ — queen d1→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxa2 — queen b3→a2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxa2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1q3bp/6p1/4pp2/3P4/P2B1P2/br3BPP/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 21

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