Chess Puzzle #0ELIr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1045 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight f3; pawns a4/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g6; queen h5; rook a8; bishops b6/h3; knight f6; pawns b7/c7/e5/f4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg2 — bishop h3→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen h5→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e7→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/1pp1Q1pp/1b3nk1/4p2q/P3Pp2/5N1b/5PP1/R1B2RK1 b - - 1 20

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