Chess Puzzle #0SVkU — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1332 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/f7; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/g4; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king e8→f7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxg4 (knight f6→g4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen d1→g4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2Bp1/5n1p/2b1p3/3nP1b1/2NPBN2/PPP3PP/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 10

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