Chess Puzzle #0b4dQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1292 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen b5; rooks d3/d5; bishop c3; pawns b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen e6; rooks b8/d7; knight e3; pawns b6/c5/d6/f6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight e3→d5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen e6→f5).
  3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen b5→c6, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move exd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/2kr3p/1p1pqp2/1QpR4/4P3/2BRn3/1PP3PP/1K6 b - - 8 41

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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