Chess Puzzle #1I1Hq — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1386 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knights c3/g1; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/f6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen b6→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Na4 — knight c3→a4. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen b2→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Na4.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kb1r/1p3ppp/pq1ppn2/2p5/3P1B2/P1N1P3/1PP2PPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 1 7

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