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

Rating 1540 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e2; queen b3; rooks b1/c1; knight c3; pawns a2/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d4/h8; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb4 — rook d4→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb4 — queen b3→b4, captures rook. Opponent replies cxb4 (pawn c5→b4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nd5+ — knight c3→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
  4. Best move: Nxe7 — knight d5→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/1p2qppp/p4n2/2p5/3r4/1QN1P1P1/P3KPP1/1RR5 b - - 1 21

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