Chess Puzzle #1FJPC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1186 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king f3; rook d8; knight c7; pawns b4/f2/g4/h4. Black: king f6; rook d4; bishop b5; pawns a6/d5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb4 — rook d4→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5+ — knight c7→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f6→f7).
  3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight d5→b4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/2N5/p4kpp/1b1p4/1P1r2PP/5K2/5P2/8 b - - 2 48

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