Chess Puzzle #leaR2 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1957 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d8; rook a8; bishops e6/f6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop e6→d5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move exd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q4/pp3kpp/2n1bb2/2ppp3/4PP2/2NP4/PPP3PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 12

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