Chess Puzzle #KEx1Y — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1748 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook f1; bishops b3/h2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e4/g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen g4→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen e8→e4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3qrk1/pp4bp/2p2p2/3p2p1/3Pb1Q1/1BP1P2P/PP1N2PB/5RK1 b - - 3 22

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