Chess Puzzle #EPx2C — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight g5; pawns a3/c5/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks c8/e8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen d2→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen d7→f7, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen a2→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r1rbk1/1p1q1ppp/p1n5/2P3N1/3P4/P7/3Q2PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 2 21

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