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

Rating 1517 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen c7; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks b8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb5 — rook b8→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re1 — rook h1→e1. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop d7→e6).
  3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c7→c6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2kb1r/p1Qbqppp/2n5/1B6/5P2/8/PPP2KPP/RNB4R b k - 0 12

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