Chess Puzzle #6ZMpX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1414 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks b1/f1; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c2; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop d6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf4+ — queen f6→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Bd6 (bishop e7→d6).
  3. Best move: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qf4+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp5p/2nb1Q2/1Np5/8/5N2/P1q3PP/1R3RK1 b - - 1 21

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