Chess Puzzle #44SJf — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1290 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/c4; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/e6; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxb5 — bishop c4→b5, captures pawn. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen a4→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1ppq1pp1/p1npbn1p/2b5/Q1BPP3/5N2/PP1N1PPP/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 0 11

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