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

Rating 2314 · Expert · crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king c1; queen c5; rook h5; bishop e2; pawns a2/c4/d5/e4/f3. Black: king f8; queen f6; rook e7; bishop d7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/f4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen f6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook h5→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen g6→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen c5→e7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen f6→e7, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e5→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/pp1br3/5q2/2QPn2R/2P1Pp2/5P2/P3B3/2K5 b - - 0 28

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