Chess Puzzle #Maw3t — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2183 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop g3; knight h3; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd2 — queen e2→d2. Opponent replies Bxa3 (bishop f8→a3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d2→d7, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd2.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp4pp/2p2p2/q2np3/8/P5BN/1PP1QPPP/2KR3R b kq - 1 18

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