Chess Puzzle #Rn2ZS — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2571 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rook e1; bishop a3; knight e4; pawns b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; bishop g4; knight c1; pawns b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen h5→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Nc5+ — knight e4→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen d5→c5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qa4+ — queen a8→a4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/Qpp2ppp/8/7q/4N1b1/BP6/2P2PPP/2n1R2K b - - 0 19

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