Chess Puzzle #42W3C — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1305 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, queen endgame, short.

Position

White: king e4; queen b5; pawns a6/f4. Black: king h7; queen d8; pawns g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb7+ — queen b5→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  3. Best move: a7 — pawn a6→a7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, queen endgame, short. The key move is Qb7+.

Position data

FEN: 3q4/7k/P5p1/1Q5p/4KP2/8/8/8 b - - 6 66

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