Chess Puzzle #5C8cJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1134 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights c3/h7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/g6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh7 — rook h8→h7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop c1→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
  3. Best move: Bxd8 — bishop g5→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Bg5+.

Position data

FEN: r2q3r/ppp1k1pN/2n3b1/2bpp3/6P1/2NP3P/PPP2P2/R1BQK2R b KQ - 0 12

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