Chess Puzzle #5A31G — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1014 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e8; knight g2; pawns d4/e3/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen f2; knight b4; pawns a5/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd3 — knight b4→d3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e8→e4, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e4→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Qe4+.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/6pk/5p1p/p7/1n1P4/4P1PP/5qNK/8 b - - 1 42

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