Chess Puzzle #6DeP9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2213 · Expert · crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; knight e7; pawns a3/b2/c2/d5/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/g2; bishop b7; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd3 — knight f4→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen h6→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g2→g7).
  3. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Qf6+.

Position data

FEN: r2q3k/1b2Np1p/p2p3Q/1p1Pp3/5n2/P2B1P2/1PP3rP/R3R2K b - - 1 21

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