Chess Puzzle #Z8hbf — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2178 · Expert · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f4; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks a8/d8; bishop e6; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b5/c4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g7→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f4→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qh5+.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/p4kp1/1q2bn1p/1p6/2pnPR2/2N5/PP1B2PP/R2Q3K b - - 2 20

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