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

Rating 1006 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rook h1; bishop c6; knights d2/f3; pawns c2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rook h8; bishop d7; knight f6; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop d7→c6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a4→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qxh8 — queen a8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/1p1b1ppp/2B1pn2/2qp4/Q7/4PN2/2PN1PPP/4K2R b Kk - 0 15

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