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

Rating 2415 · Master · advantage, defensive move, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c4; rook e2; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook f8; bishop a7; pawns a6/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a1→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra2 — rook e2→a2. Opponent replies Bb8+ (bishop a7→b8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kg1 — king h2→g1.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move is Ra2.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/bp3pp1/p1p1p2p/8/1PQ1N3/P6P/4RPPK/q7 b - - 5 36

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