Chess Puzzle #3lu7I — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1211 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; knights c3/f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e7; bishops e6/g7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen a5→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Rd8+.

Position data

FEN: rn1q2k1/pp2rNbp/4b1p1/8/4PQ2/2N2P2/PPP3PP/2KR3R b - - 0 16

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