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

Rating 1454 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; bishop b7; pawns a3/b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; rooks d8/h8; bishop c3; pawns a7/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1 — queen b1→c1. Opponent replies Rhd8 (rook h8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c1→c3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/pB3pk1/4p1p1/8/1P6/P1b3P1/5P1P/1Q4K1 b - - 0 31

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