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

Rating 2378 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c2/e1; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks a8/d6; bishop f6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf3 — queen e2→f3. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb7 — queen f3→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qf3.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1q3p2/p2rpbp1/1p2N2p/8/P5P1/1PR1QPP1/4R1K1 b - - 5 26

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