Chess Puzzle #0V4il — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2024 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/e2; knights b5/f3; pawns a4/b3/c2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c8; knights b8/f2; pawns a5/b7/c7/d7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight f2→d1, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxc5+ (bishop b6→c5, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bd4 — bishop b2→d4. Opponent replies Bxd4+ (bishop c5→d4, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nfxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move dxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/1ppp1pp1/1b5p/pNq5/P2P4/1P3N2/1BP1BnPP/R2QR1K1 b - - 2 16

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.