Chess Puzzle #HblRK — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1619 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; knight b1; pawns a4/b4/c2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks d6/e8; bishop g6; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f3→c6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook d6→c6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/pp3ppp/2qr2b1/8/PP1pn1P1/3B1Q1P/2P2P2/RN2R1K1 b - - 0 21

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