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

Rating 2559 · Master · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rook e1; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights b8/h1; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 10 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3 — queen f3→c3. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Nf6 — knight d5→f6.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: rnb2k1r/pppp1p2/3q3p/3N2p1/2B5/5Q2/PP3PPP/2K1R2n b - - 3 15

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