Chess Puzzle #6XHqC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1454 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f4/h5; knights b1/g6; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh5 — knight f6→h5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen d1→h5, captures knight. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen h5→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, short. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp2b2p/2n1pnN1/3p3B/3P1B2/8/PP3PPP/RN1QK2R b KQkq - 0 11

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