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

Rating 1597 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b2; queen d3; rooks a3/g1; bishops e3/g2; pawns a4/b4/c3/d4/f4/g3. Black: king e7; queen h5; rooks c8/h8; bishops e6/g7; knight d7; pawns b6/c7/d6/f5/g4/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen h5→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight d7→f6).
  3. Best move: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is d5.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/2pnk1b1/1p1pb2p/5p1q/PP1P1Pp1/R1PQB1P1/1K4B1/6R1 b - - 2 30

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