Chess Puzzle #JT0qz — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops b3/g3; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop g6; knights d4/e7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e4/e6/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d2→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b6→d4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2n2p/1q1pppb1/6p1/3np3/1B4BP/PPPQ1PP1/2KR2NR b kq - 5 15

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