Chess Puzzle #13Qd2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1274 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f4; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight f7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p2qn1p/p3p1p1/3p4/5R2/2NQ1N2/PP3PPP/R5K1 b - - 1 28

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