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

Rating 2265 · Expert · endgame, equality, hanging piece, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook d1; bishop e7; pawns a2/c2/c3/c4/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rooks a8/f3; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen f8→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen e4→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop e7→d6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, hanging piece, short. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4qk1/p3B2p/1p1p2p1/2p1p3/2P1Q3/2P2r2/P1P4P/3R2K1 b - - 1 22

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