Chess Puzzle #41WXE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1226 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop h6; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c7/c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbq1rk1/ppb3p1/2p4B/7Q/3PN3/8/PPP2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 14

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