Chess Puzzle #39Yjg — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1074 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a3→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen f3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
  3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d5→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/ppp3pp/8/3pNp2/3P4/q1PB1Q2/P1P2PPP/1K1R3R b - - 2 13

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