Chess Puzzle #1pjj0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1355 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen h5; rooks d1/h1; knight d6; pawns a2/f3/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks d8/h8; knight b6; pawns a6/b7/e6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d8→d6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e8→e7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2kr/1p6/pn1Np2p/7Q/1q4PP/5P2/P7/K2R3R b - - 3 29

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