I’m a new chess player and do not understand why the solution to this puzzle is Qc2+ instead of something like Rb8, Qf5, g4 I don’t really understand what black could do here to save the Queen?
Usually every time you feel like you don’t get the solution, as it seems there’s a better move, it’s because you’re missing some counter to the “better” move. It gets easier with time to spot those moves early on, but the harder the puzzles get the harder it becomes. It never ends. Welcome to chess!
Why would Rb8 force Qf5?
The solution given by lichess nets you a rook, I don’t see a way to take the black queen
To block the attack from Queen on c2 is what I thought.
As Joe said, the problem is that these moves are not forced. After Rb8 black has a few options to play, like moving the rook out of the danger. And in case white follows with Qc2+, black can also defend with either Qg6 or g6 and keep the queen safe or exchange. The puzzle solution in this case is a double attack that wins material for white regardless black’s response.
