Chess Puzzle #E9DLq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/d1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/d3. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen d6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d1→d3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen d5→d3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, pin, short. The key move Rxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bk1b1r/ppp1n3/2pq4/6Q1/8/3p2P1/PPP2P1P/RNBR2K1 b - - 1 13

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