Chess Puzzle #4tX8a — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1146 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/e8; bishops b6/g4; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop g4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen g5→h5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxh5 (bishop f3→h5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxh5 — bishop e2→h5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The key move Qxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/1pp2p1p/1bn5/p5Qq/6b1/P3PNP1/1P2BP1P/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 20

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