Chess Puzzle #11Qy4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 987 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f3/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishops e7/h5; pawns a6/b7/c5/c7/f6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6+ — knight c4→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Nxd7+ — knight b6→d7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1ppqb3/p4pp1/2p4b/2NPP3/4BP1P/PPQ1K3/R6R b - - 0 20

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