Chess Puzzle #2CgkV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1320 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rook b1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c6/d3/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen d6; rook d8; bishop e3; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen d6→c6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen g4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen c6→d6).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen g3→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg3+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/pp5p/1nPq2p1/8/6Q1/2NPb2P/PP4P1/1R5K b - - 0 26

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