Chess Puzzle #pVx8E — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2089 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook f1; knight e8; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king d6; queen d5; rook c8; bishop a3; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/d3/f6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke6 — king d6→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen h5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e6→f7).
  3. Best move: Qxc8 — queen g4→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qg4+.

Position data

FEN: 2r1N3/p7/1p1k1p2/3q3Q/4n3/bP1p2PP/P4P2/5RK1 b - - 8 31

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