Chess Puzzle #09vkI — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1852 · Advanced · equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knights c3/g1; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop d2→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen a5→c7).
  3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move Bxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kb1r/pp3ppp/4pn2/q3P3/3p4/P1N5/1PPB2PP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 2 8

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.