Chess Puzzle #OZS22 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2371 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen d4; rooks e1/g7; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f5/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks a8/c7; knight f6; pawns d5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king h8→g7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen d4→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop c3→b4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qg4+.

Position data

FEN: r6k/2r2pRp/2q2n2/3p1P2/3Q4/2B5/PPP4P/K3R3 b - - 0 34

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