Chess Puzzle #11VAg — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1030 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights d4/d5; pawns a2/b3/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/h6; pawns a7/b5/d7/e5/f7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies dxe6 (pawn d7→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen e3→c5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/p2p1p2/7b/1pqNp2p/2BNPP2/1P2Q3/P5PP/2KR3R b - - 0 17

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