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

Rating 1443 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, deflection, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook e1; pawns a2/b2/c2/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg7 — queen d7→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Re7+ — rook e8→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king f7→e7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h6→g7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, endgame, long. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pppq3p/3p3Q/3P4/2P5/8/PPP3PP/4R1K1 b - - 6 26

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