Chess Puzzle #1YbNS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1682 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king e2; queen e8; bishop b3; pawns a2/b4/e4/f3/h2. Black: king a7; queen h4; bishop e7; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh2+ — queen h4→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kd3 — king e2→d3. Opponent replies Bg5 (bishop e7→g5).
  3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen e8→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
  4. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen d7→d6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move Qxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/k3b1pp/p2p4/1p2p3/1P2P2q/1B3P2/P3K2P/8 b - - 7 37

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