Chess Puzzle #14mI5 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1208 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop b2; knight d2; pawns a3/c3/c4/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; bishop a6; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop a6→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc4 — knight d2→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxc4 (knight a5→c4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p3qppp/bp1p4/n1pPp3/2P1P3/P1PQ4/1B1N1PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 18

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