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

Rating 1873 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f5; bishop h4; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/c7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg5 — rook f5→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e6→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe6+.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/2p3pp/p1n5/1p2pr2/6Qb/2PP4/PPB2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 1 20

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