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

Rating 1074 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen h7; rook h1; bishop b3; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5. Black: king f8; queen d3; rooks d8/e8; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen h8→e5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rrk2/pp3p1Q/6p1/3pP3/8/1B1qP3/PP2NK2/7R b - - 0 27

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