Chess Puzzle #JJDQF — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2685 · Master · advantage, long, middlegame, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rook c1; bishop d2; knight a2; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks c4/h8; bishop f8; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb7+ — queen a8→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen e5→c7).
  3. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen b7→c7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c4→c7, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, X-ray attack. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q3kb1r/5ppp/p3p3/1p2q3/2r5/P7/NP1B1PPP/2R3K1 b k - 1 20

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