Chess Puzzle #LRo8V — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2686 · Master · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; bishop f1; knight e5; pawns d4/e3/f2/g3/h5. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a2/d8; bishop b4; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc8 — queen c3→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Bd3 — bishop f1→d3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pQ3pp1/1p2p2p/3pN2P/1b1P4/2q1P1P1/r4P2/5BK1 b - - 5 31

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