Chess Puzzle #3Y0Hj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1545 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c5; rooks a1/c1; knight d4; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishop d3; pawns a6/b5/c2/c6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be4 — bishop d3→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen c5→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e5→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/5pk1/p1p3pp/1pQ5/3N4/3b4/Pqp3PP/R1R4K b - - 3 22

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