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

Rating 2264 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen e3; rook h1; bishop d5; pawns a2/c2/c4/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop a6; pawns a7/e4/g5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen e3→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Bxf7 — bishop d5→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen f6→d4).
  4. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen a7→d4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/p5k1/b4q2/3B2p1/2P1p3/4Q3/P1P1KPP1/7R b - - 3 25

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