Chess Puzzle #GzJPJ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2223 · Expert · advantage, attraction, discovered attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishop e2; knight d6; pawns a2/c3/c4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen f8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/d7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne8 — knight f6→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Kxc8 (king d8→c8, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen d2→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  4. Best move: Rb1 — rook d1→b1.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bk1q1r/1p1p1ppp/p1nN1n2/4p3/2P5/2P1P3/P2QBPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 1 21

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