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

Rating 2316 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/g1; bishop d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qd2 — queen e2→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1p3ppp/p7/3p1b2/3B4/5P2/PPP1QP1P/2KR2R1 b - - 3 17

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