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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rook f1; knight d7; pawns a2/b2/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rook d8; bishop e3; pawns a5/b7/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook f8→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qc8+.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/1p1N3p/1q2p1p1/p7/6P1/4b3/PPQ4P/5R1K b - - 0 24

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