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

Rating 2122 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks d7/e8; bishop h6; pawns b2/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks b4/f7; bishop f8; pawns c5/d6/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook b4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1 — queen a5→e1. Opponent replies Re2 (rook b2→e2).
  3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen f3→e2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe2 — queen e1→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Qe1.

Position data

FEN: 4Rbk1/3R1r1p/3p1ppB/Q1p5/1r5P/5qP1/1P3P2/6K1 b - - 0 30

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