Chess Puzzle #2ICaL — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1166 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook a1; bishop c1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/d3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rook a8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Qf7 (queen f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen e6→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe6+.

Position data

FEN: r4qk1/pp1nb1pp/2p5/3pp3/3P4/3PQ3/PP1N2PP/R1B3K1 b - - 1 16

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