Chess Puzzle #0grl3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 872 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rook g1; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop g2; knight e6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight e6→f4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen g7→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1k1r/p1ppp3/1p2n1Q1/4P2N/8/8/PPP2PbK/6R1 b - - 3 21

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