Chess Puzzle #47XMC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1487 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/g3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/d6/e6/f5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb4 — knight c6→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen d3→d4, gives check. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen d4→b4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/pbq1b1k1/1pnpp2p/5pp1/8/2PQ2BP/PP1N1PP1/2KR1B1R b - - 3 19

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