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

Rating 2074 · Expert · endgame, equality, hanging piece, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen a6; rook b5; pawns a5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen c5; rook e8; bishop f6; pawns e3/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen c5→b5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb5 — queen a6→b5, captures queen. Opponent replies Re5 (rook e8→e5).
  3. Best move: Qe2 — queen b5→e2.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, hanging piece, short. The key move Qxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/5pkp/Q4bp1/PRq5/8/4p1P1/5PKP/8 b - - 1 28

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