Chess Puzzle #0W5bA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 600 · Beginner · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks b1/e1; knights b2/d5; pawns a3/b4/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b7; rooks c8/e8; bishop g7; knight e5; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r2k/1q3pbp/p5p1/1p1Nn3/1PP5/P3Q3/1N3PPP/1R2R1K1 b - - 6 26

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