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

Rating 2077 · Expert · crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen g3; rooks d1/e4; bishops a1/f3; pawns d5/f5/g2. Black: king g7; queen b3; rooks h4/h8; bishop f6; knight f4; pawns a5/b6/c6/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen g3→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen g5→f6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/5pk1/1pp2b2/p2P1Pp1/4Rn1r/1q3BQ1/3K2P1/B2R4 b - - 1 37

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