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

Rating 1119 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks b8/h8; bishops d7/f8; pawns a7/c6/d6/e7/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook b8→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Na4 — knight c3→a4. Opponent replies Qa5 (queen c5→a5).
  3. Best move: Nxb2 — knight a4→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Na4.

Position data

FEN: 1r2kb1r/p2bpp1p/2pp1p2/2q5/4P3/2NB4/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 b k - 3 12

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