Chess Puzzle #1Esbr — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1233 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/f4; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops a3/c8; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxa3 — queen a4→a3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk1nr/6pp/p3pp2/1p1p4/2PP1B2/b1P1P3/P4PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 11

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