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

Rating 1054 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/c6/d4/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen c7→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen f7→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kbnr/p1q2Npp/2p5/4p3/3p4/5Q1P/PPP2PP1/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 0 11

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