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

Rating 1586 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook e1; bishop b2; knight f7; pawns a3/b3/d4/f4/g5/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rook c8; bishop b7; knights c3/d5; pawns a5/b6/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen d8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: 2rq4/1b3Npk/1p2p3/p2n2P1/3P1P2/PPn5/1B3Q1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 27

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