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

Rating 1549 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/d1; bishops c1/g2; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/e2/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops d4/e4; knight c5; pawns a5/b7/c7/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop e4→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxc4 (bishop d5→c4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d4→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2p1p/6p1/p1n1p3/2Qbb3/4NPP1/PP2P1BP/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 16

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