Chess Puzzle #02Q8P — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1674 · Advanced · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks b1/h7; bishops d3/f4; pawns a4/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c6; knight a5; pawns a6/b6/e6/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Bxg6 — bishop d3→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/5p1R/ppb1p1p1/n7/P2P1B2/2PB4/5PPP/1R1Q2K1 b - - 0 19

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