Chess Puzzle #8W741 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1577 · Intermediate · equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/f3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knights c4/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop f3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move Bxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pp2bppp/5n2/3p4/2nPN3/3Q1B2/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 0 13

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