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

Rating 2239 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e3; queen b3; rook h1; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns a3/c4/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen a1; rooks d8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen b3→a4, gives check. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b7→b5).
  3. Best move: Rxa1 — rook h1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: 3rk2r/ppp2p1p/2n5/5p2/2P1p3/PQ2KNP1/4PPBP/q6R b k - 3 18

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