Chess Puzzle #EZ8P4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2248 · Expert · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen c8; knight f8; pawns a2/b4/d5/e4. Black: king h7; queen g1; bishop e5; pawns a7/b6/d6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh6 — king h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c8→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
  3. Best move: Qf5+ — queen h3→f5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Qh3+.

Position data

FEN: 2Q2N2/p5pk/1p1p4/3Pb3/1P2P3/8/P2K4/6q1 b - - 2 38

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