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

Rating 2048 · Expert · crushing, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rook d4; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen b6; rooks c5/e8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook c5→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b6→d4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen e5→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/1b3p1p/pq2pQpk/1pr1P3/3R4/P1N2P1P/1PP3P1/7K b - - 1 28

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