Chess Puzzle #USLb6 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2478 · Master · endgame, equality, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a7; rook h1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g5/h4. Black: king c8; queen d6; rook d8; knight b4; pawns b7/c7/e5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen d6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qa4+ — queen a8→a4, gives check.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, queenside attack, short. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/Qpp3pp/3qp3/4p1P1/1n5P/5N2/PPP5/2K4R b - - 2 20

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