Chess Puzzle #05lM6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1623 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen g3; rook d1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/e4/f3/h4. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh3 — bishop f1→h3. Opponent replies Qxh3 (queen d7→h3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pppq1p2/1b5p/3P2p1/4P2P/2N2PQ1/PPPK4/3R1B2 b - - 0 22

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