Chess Puzzle #R7BKk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1824 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; pawns a3/b2/f5/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3 — queen g3→c3. Opponent replies Re5 (rook e8→e5).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen c3→b2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: r2qrk2/ppp2p1p/3p4/5P2/2n5/P5QP/1P3KP1/R4B1R b - - 1 21

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