Chess Puzzle #1ST7N — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 643 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a6/c6/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd8 — queen d2→d8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1rbq1r2/4ppkp/p1pp1np1/4P3/5P2/2N5/PPPQ2PP/2KR1B1R b - - 0 13

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