Chess Puzzle #BwM6Y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1501 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h6; rook a1; bishop g2; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3. Black: king e8; queen e7; rook c8; bishop d5; knight c4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen h8→b2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh8+.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k3/4qp2/p3p2Q/1p1b4/2n5/1N3P2/PPP3B1/R3K3 b Q - 0 22

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