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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c4; rooks a1/h1; bishop h5; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/h6; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c4→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen d8→d6).
  3. Best move: exd6+ — pawn e5→d6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, short. The key move exd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbq2nr/ppp1k3/4p2b/4P1pB/2Q5/4P3/PP3PPP/RN2K1NR b KQ - 0 10

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