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

Rating 1603 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen d2; rook h1; bishops f4/g2; knight f3; pawns a3/c2/c4/d3/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook e8; bishops d5/g7; knights b6/f5; pawns a7/b7/d4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight b6→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxc4 — pawn d3→c4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxc4+ (bishop d5→c4, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move dxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp4b1/1n4q1/3b1nPp/2Pp1B1P/P2P1N2/2PQ1PB1/5K1R b - - 0 26

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