Chess Puzzle #2PGtF — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1570 · Intermediate · attack on f2/f7, crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/e3; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g4/h5. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h7; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen f7→e6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1p2nppb/pqn1p2p/1B1pN2P/3P2P1/2N1BQ2/PPP2P2/R3K2R b KQkq - 1 15

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