Chess Puzzle #DS9QG — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1727 · Advanced · advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks b1/e1; bishop c2; knights d5/g3; pawns a2/c4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks d8/f8; bishop e6; knights c5/f4; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen b2→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d2→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e5→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight d5→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp4pp/4b3/2nNpp2/2P2n2/5PN1/PqBQ2PP/1R2R2K b - - 5 21

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