Chess Puzzle #MQVBE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2047 · Expert · crushing, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f6; rooks h1/h8; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f2. Black: king c7; queen d7; rooks g7/g8; bishop b7; pawns a5/b6/c6/d5/e6/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh8 — rook g8→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen f6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen d7→d6).
  3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen e5→g7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6rR/1bkq2r1/1pp1pQ2/p2p1p2/8/2PBP3/PP3P2/2K4R b - - 9 36

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