Chess Puzzle #8O0VM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, long, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/g3; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d4; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e5→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop g3→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, long, opening. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp1npp1/3q3p/3Pp3/N1Bb4/6BP/PP3PP1/R2Q1RK1 b - - 5 16

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