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

Rating 2164 · Expert · advantage, attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen e5; rooks a1/e1; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/d4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a5/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p3pp1/2p4p/p3Q3/3PN3/P7/1P4KP/R3R3 b - - 0 24

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