Chess Puzzle #1MB0N — Beginner, White to move, endgame

Rating 846 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, master, short.

Position

White: king f3; rook f2; knight e3. Black: king d6; queen a4; pawn e6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen a4→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc4+ — knight e3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd5 (king d6→d5).
  3. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c4→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Nc4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/3kp3/8/q7/4NK2/5R2/8 b - - 11 55

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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