Chess Puzzle #07H42 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 656 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen e2; rook a1; bishop c1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a7/c6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e2→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen f6→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/p1p2ppp/2p2q2/3pP3/8/5N2/PPP1QKPP/RNB5 b - - 0 14

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