Chess Puzzle #36M1a — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1244 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop f5; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks d8/e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen e6→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/ppp2pb1/4q1pp/3NpB2/2P5/1P2P3/P4PPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 18

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