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

Rating 1413 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, queen endgame, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen d4; pawns a5/b4/e3/e5/g3/h4. Black: king e6; queen c6; pawns a6/b5/e4/f5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen c6→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d4→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe5 (king e6→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen b6→c7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, queen endgame, short. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p1q1k1p1/Pp2Pp1p/1P1Qp2P/4P1PK/8/8 b - - 0 50

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