Chess Puzzle #TsnxK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2002 · Expert · deflection, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks a1/e1; bishop h2; pawns a6/b4/c2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishop e6; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/e4/f4/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc6+ — queen b5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen e5→c7).
  3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen c6→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc6+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/p1qn4/Pp2b2p/1Q2P1p1/1P2pp2/7P/2P2PPB/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22

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