Chess Puzzle #5KnqD — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1039 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rooks d1/h1; bishops e5/g4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/h2. Black: king d8; queen e7; rooks e8/h8; bishops f8/h7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxe5+ — pawn d4→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d8→c7).
  3. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d1→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen e7→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxd7 — bishop g4→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move dxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3krb1r/pp1nq1pb/2p5/4B3/3P2B1/7Q/PPP2P1P/2KR3R b - - 8 23

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