Chess Puzzle #Um8HU — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2324 · Expert · advantage, attraction, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks b7/h3; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/c3/f4/g4/h2. Black: king h7; queen f6; rooks a8/g6; bishop e6; pawns a7/c6/d6/f5/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen f6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king h7→g6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxf5+ — bishop d3→f5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pR3p1k/2ppbqrp/5p1Q/5PP1/2PB3R/P1P4P/7K b - - 0 25

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