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

Rating 1851 · Advanced · endgame, equality, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f7; pawns a2/b2/d5/g3/h4. Black: king a7; queen d6; bishop g5; pawns a6/b7/c5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop g5→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6 — queen f7→e6. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d6→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen e6→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, pin, short. The key move is Qe6.

Position data

FEN: 8/kp3Q2/p2q3p/2pP2b1/7P/6P1/PP4K1/8 b - - 0 36

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