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

Rating 1543 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen h6; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/d5. Black: king b8; queen e1; knight c4; pawns a6/b7/c5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen e1→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen h6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king b8→a7).
  3. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen f8→c5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1p3p2/p6Q/2pP4/2n5/P1N5/KP6/4q3 b - - 2 34

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