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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d3/e1; bishop e7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/d4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe7 — queen e2→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d7→e7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/p2qB1bp/6p1/8/3p4/2NR4/PPP1QPPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 18

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