Chess Puzzle #X4Eo5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1901 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rook f2; bishop d5; pawns a3/b4/d3/e4/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook b1; bishops f4/h3; pawns a6/b7/d4/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh4 — queen d8→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf4 — queen f3→f4, captures bishop. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/1p5p/p5p1/3Bp3/1P1pPb1P/P2P1QPb/5R1K/1r6 b - - 7 33

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