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

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2/g4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1rbq1r2/5pkp/p1np2p1/1p2p3/4P1P1/2PBNQ2/PP3P2/R3K2R b KQ - 0 20

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