Chess Puzzle #1ZQN6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1122 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rook a1; knight d5; pawns a6/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks c8/h8; bishop d6; pawns a7/c7/d4/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen b6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen a4→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen c5→b6).
  3. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d5→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb3+.

Position data

FEN: 1kr4r/p1p5/Pq1b1p1p/3N4/Q2p4/8/1PP3PP/R6K b - - 1 23

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