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

Rating 1538 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rook d1; bishop d5; pawns a2/c4/f4/g3. Black: king g7; queen c5; rook e8; bishop b6; pawns a6/e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb2+ — queen e2→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen c5→d4).
  3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Qb2+.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/6kp/pb4p1/2qB1p2/2P1pP2/6P1/P3Q1K1/3R4 b - - 0 38

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