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

Position

White: king c1; queen b6; rooks e1/e2; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h4. Black: king a8; queen d7; rooks e7/h8; bishop e6; pawns a7/d5/f5/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxb6+ — knight a4→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king a8→b7).
3. Best move: Nxd7 — knight b6→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook e7→d7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e2→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k6r/p2qr2p/1Q2bpp1/3p1p2/N2P3P/8/PPP1R1P1/2K1R3 b - - 0 24

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