Chess Puzzle #934x4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1429 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rook e1; bishops b2/d5; knight b3; pawns a2/c4/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks d8/f8; bishop b6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight b3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd4 (bishop b6→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen c3→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp4pp/1b3p2/3B3q/2Pn4/1NQ3P1/PB2PP1P/4R1K1 b - - 1 21

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