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

Rating 2288 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a2/f1; bishop h6; knight g3; pawns a3/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b1; rooks d8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns b6/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen b1→a2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5 — queen f5→g5. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
  3. Best move: Bxg7 — bishop h6→g7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qg5.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1pp2pp1/1pn2n1B/4pQ2/4P3/P1P3NP/RP3PP1/1q3RK1 b - - 0 18

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