Chess Puzzle #7OXC1 — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, queen endgame, short.

Position

White: king f4; queen c7; pawns d4/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen b3; pawns c6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen b3→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen c7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen d5→e5, captures queen, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxe5 — king f4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, queen endgame, short. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2Q2pk1/2p4p/8/3P1KP1/1q5P/8/8 b - - 14 55

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