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

Rating 2157 · Expert · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen g5; rook h1; bishop d3; knights d2/g1; pawns a3/f3/f6/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen f8; rook a8; bishops b7/c7; knight a1; pawns b4/b6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5+ — queen f8→c5, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ke2 — king f2→e2. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
  3. Best move: Qh6 — queen g5→h6.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Ke2.

Position data

FEN: r4qk1/1bb2p1p/1p2pPp1/3p2QP/1p6/P2B1P2/3N1KP1/n5NR b - - 0 24

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