Chess Puzzle #Z0Oa9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2072 · Expert · advantage, master, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/c1; bishops b1/g3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/f6; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Bd6 — bishop g3→d6.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, opening, short. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/pp1b2p1/4pb1p/3p4/2n5/2NQP1B1/PP3PPP/RBR3K1 b - - 5 21

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