Chess Puzzle #Dv4j5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1475 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d1/h1; bishop f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks a8/e8; bishop e6; knight a6; pawns a5/b7/c6/f6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh6 — bishop f4→h6. Opponent replies Qxh6+ (queen g7→h6, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1p4q1/n1p1bp2/p6Q/3P1B1P/2P2P2/PP4P1/2KR3R b - - 0 18

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