Chess Puzzle #2ZoR3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1112 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop h6; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb2 — bishop g7→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen b5→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2pbp/3p2pB/8/4P3/3Q4/PPP2PPP/RN2K2R b KQkq - 0 11

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