Chess Puzzle #v7CET — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2331 · Expert · discovered attack, equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishops c2/g5; knights d2/e5; pawns d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/c4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 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: Ndxc4 — knight d2→c4, captures pawn. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, opening, short. The key move Ndxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/4bppp/p1n1pn2/q2pN1B1/2pP4/8/2BN1PPP/2RQR1K1 b kq - 1 18

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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