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

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · crushing, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen d4; rooks g1/h3; pawns a3/c4/h6. Black: king g8; queen g2; rooks a8/e5; knight e4; pawns b7/c7/d6/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa3+ — rook a8→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa3 — rook h3→a3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxg1+ (queen g2→g1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen d4→g1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxg1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1pp2p1p/3p3P/4r2p/2PQn3/P6R/6q1/K5R1 b - - 3 31

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