Chess Puzzle #14gKH — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2254 · Expert · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d6/h1; bishop b3; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e5; knight c5; pawns a7/b4/c6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb3 — knight c5→b3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: f4 — pawn f2→f4.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p4p2/2pR3p/2n1b1q1/1p6/1B3Q2/PPP1NPPP/1K5R b kq - 2 19

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