Chess Puzzle #MW8NX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops g2/g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d7/f7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3+ — bishop g7→c3, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen f3→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen d8→g5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh8 — queen c3→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk1nr/pp1p1pb1/8/2p3Bp/2P5/2N2QP1/PP3PBP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 10

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