Chess Puzzle #Ida71 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1409 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop h5; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe2+ (bishop h5→e2, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight d4→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3pp1/2nq1n1p/3p3b/3P4/5N1P/PP1NBPP1/R2Q1K1R b - - 0 15

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