Chess Puzzle #MQ1qX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1418 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rook f1; bishop d3; pawns a4/b3/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook a8; bishop e6; pawns b6/b7/c6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f1→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, short. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p4pp/1pp1b3/3pP3/P2q4/1P1B3P/4Q1P1/5R1K b - - 0 29

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