Chess Puzzle #3dcmD — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1064 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks d1/f1; bishop f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d6/e4/f2/g4/h4. Black: king f8; queen b7; rooks d8/h8; bishop g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k1r/pq3pb1/1ppP1npp/4Q3/2P1P1PP/5B2/PP3P2/3R1RK1 b - - 0 21

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