Chess Puzzle #24lPl — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1465 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/e3; knights c3/d2; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g6; knights c6/e4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd2 — knight e4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd2 — queen d1→d2, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop g6→d3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen d2→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp1bppp/p1n3b1/3pP3/3Pn1P1/2NBB2P/PP1N1P2/R2Q1RK1 b - - 2 14

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