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

Rating 1401 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e8; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/h4. Black: king h6; queen f6; rooks a8/d7; bishop b7; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook d7→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen e8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen f6→g7).
  3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen f8→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move is Qf8+.

Position data

FEN: rn2Q3/pb1r1p2/1p3qpk/2ppN3/2P4P/3B4/PP3P2/R3K2R b KQ - 1 20

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