Chess Puzzle #GczoH — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1560 · Intermediate · equality, hanging piece, opening, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rook a1; bishops c1/f1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e2/f2/g4/g5. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight h5→f6).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, opening, short, trapped piece. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/ppp2pp1/2n1p3/3p2Pn/3P2P1/8/PPP1PP2/RNBQKB2 b Qkq - 0 9

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