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

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e1/e3; pawns a5/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d1/d8; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c6→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen h4→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d1→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc3 — rook e3→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, master, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/1pp2p1p/p1q1p1p1/P7/1P5Q/4R3/5PPP/3rR1K1 b - - 1 31

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