Chess Puzzle #BDi9d — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2096 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: g3 — pawn g2→g3.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/p1pn1pp1/1p1bp2p/8/8/2P1BQ2/PPP2PPP/R4RK1 b kq - 2 12

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