Chess Puzzle #5bVrG — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1812 · Advanced · advantage, endgame, master, master vs master, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; bishops d4/h3; pawns c4/d5/e2. Black: king g8; queen g3; knight f4; pawns b6/c7/d6/e7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures bishop, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3 — queen f1→h3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxh3 (knight f4→h3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Be3 — bishop d4→e3.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, master, master vs master, short. The key move Qxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p1p3/1p1p4/3P4/2PB1n1p/6qB/4P3/5Q1K b - - 0 35

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