Chess Puzzle #7Qy75 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1574 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e2/g2/h2. Black: king c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/e6; knights d7/g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d1→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king c7→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king d7→e6).
  4. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/ppkn2pp/2p1b3/4p3/1bP1N3/4BN2/PP2P1PP/2KR1B1R b - - 1 12

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