Chess Puzzle #B1MQI — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1566 · Intermediate · deflection, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/f7; pawns b3/c2/c3/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks d8/g5; bishop d7; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen b6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook f7→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen g6→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h4→g5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/pp1b1R1n/1q6/2pp2r1/7Q/1PPP3P/2P2PP1/R5K1 b - - 0 23

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