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

Rating 1547 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, pin, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen a4; bishop c1; pawns e5/f6/g5. Black: king b8; queen d5; bishop f8; pawns a3/a6/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d5→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bf4 — bishop c1→f4. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen a4→f4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, pin, short. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k3b2/5p2/p3pPp1/3qP1P1/Q7/p7/8/1KB5 b - - 1 45

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