Chess Puzzle #5tGrZ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2540 · Master · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen h1; rook a1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/e4/f2/g2/g6. Black: king g7; queen d8; rook a8; bishops b4/b7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop b4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h1→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: e5 — pawn e4→e5.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh6+.

Position data

FEN: r2q4/pbpp2k1/1p2pnP1/5p2/1bPPP3/2N5/PP2KPP1/R1B4Q b - - 0 16

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