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

Rating 959 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks f1/f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e6/g3. Black: king h5; queen d6; rooks a8/g8; knight e4; pawns a6/b4/c6/d5/g5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king h5→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf6+ — rook f5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight e4→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen f3→f6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/8/p1pqP3/3p1Rpk/1p2n3/5QP1/PPP4K/5R2 b - - 1 31

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