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

Rating 2462 · Master · crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king g4; queen d7; rook h8; pawns b2/c3/f4/g3/h4. Black: king f7; queen f1; rook e6; bishop f6; pawns b5/c4/d2/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop f6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h8→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d7→e6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e6→e7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7R/3Q1k2/4rbp1/1p6/2p2PKP/2P3P1/1P1p4/5q2 b - - 9 46

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