Chess Puzzle #57be3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1758 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e1/e2; knights c3/e5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/g2. Black: king c8; queen h4; rooks d8/h8; bishops d6/h3; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4+ — queen h4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight c6→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf7 — knight e5→f7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp2ppp/2nb1n2/4N3/3P3q/P1N4b/1PP1B1P1/R2QBRK1 b - - 3 14

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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