Chess Puzzle #BSIYL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1673 · Advanced · equality, hanging piece, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa8 — queen f3→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen d8→c7).
  3. Best move: Qf3 — queen a8→f3.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, opening, short. The key move Qxa8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/p2pbppp/2p2n2/1N6/8/5Q2/PPP1PPPP/R1B1KB1R b KQ - 0 12

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