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

Rating 956 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king d2; knight b7; pawns a2/b3/f4/g3/h3. Black: king f5; bishop b5; pawns a5/a7/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b7→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f5→f6).
  3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d6→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: 8/pN4pp/8/pb3k2/3p1P2/1P4PP/P2K4/8 b - - 2 35

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