Chess Puzzle #9mFn9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1497 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b4; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne6 — knight d4→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight f6→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen a4→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2ppp/5n2/2Pp4/1b1n4/2NB4/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 1 10

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