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

Rating 1400 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks b1/c1; bishop g2; knights c3/f3; pawns d3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d5; knights c6/e6; pawns a7/b6/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ncd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight e6→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop g2→d5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d8→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p5pp/1pn1np2/3bp3/8/2NP1NP1/2Q1PPBP/1RR3K1 b - - 5 18

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