Chess Puzzle #4IP54 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1036 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rook h1; bishops c3/f1; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen e2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen e7→g5).
  3. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pbpnqppp/1p2p2N/8/7P/2B5/PPP1QPP1/4KB1R b K - 1 15

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