Chess Puzzle #qCbgj — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1921 · Advanced · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c4; rooks d1/f1; bishop b2; pawns a3/g3. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks a8/f7; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/f2/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen c4→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rf5 (rook f7→f5).
  3. Best move: Qc4+ — queen c5→c4, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp3rp1/7p/2b5/2Q5/P4qP1/1B3p1K/3R1R2 b - - 7 28

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