Chess Puzzle #7hD3h — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2280 · Expert · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/c4; knights d2/f3; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/e6; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc4 — knight d2→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen e7→d7).
  3. Best move: Qb3 — queen b7→b3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1Qp1qpp1/p1npbn1p/2b1p3/2B1P3/P1PP1N1P/1P1N1PP1/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 11

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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