Chess Puzzle #05soY — Beginner, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights b5/g1; pawns a2/b4/c4/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights a6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb4 — knight a6→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight b5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, opening. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pppbppp1/nq3n1p/1N2Q3/1PP5/8/P2P1PPP/R1B1KBNR b KQkq - 0 9

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