Chess Puzzle #0JDhe — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rook h1; bishop b3; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a5/b4/c6/d6/e7/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen g5→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qg5+ (queen d8→g5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h5→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/4pp1p/2pp4/p5Qp/Np1P4/1B6/PPP2PP1/2K4R b - - 3 18

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