Chess Puzzle #HY2Z2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1542 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rooks e1/e2; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f4; rooks e8/h8; knight e3; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen f4→f5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen b5→f5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf5 (knight e3→f5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rk1r/1pp2p2/3p3p/pQ3Np1/5q2/P3n2P/1P2R1P1/4R2K b - - 3 29

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