Chess Puzzle #3KCDm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1100 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f2; rook e1; pawns a2/b4/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen a1; rook d8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen a1→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen h4→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/pp3pp1/8/8/1P6/5P2/P4QKP/q3R3 b - - 4 28

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