Chess Puzzle #1Fjdl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1118 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight c7; pawns a2/b2/c4/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks c8/f5; bishop g7; knights d7/h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ndf6 — knight d7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen d6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/ppNn2bp/2pQ2p1/5r1n/2P2P1q/8/PP2B2P/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 19

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