Chess Puzzle #1MA4B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 922 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c5/f1; bishop e2; knight c6; pawns a3/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight a4; pawns a5/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight a4→c5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r1q2rk1/1b3ppp/2N1p3/ppR5/n2PP3/P7/1PQ1BPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 18

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