Chess Puzzle #1PZit — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 919 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops b2/e2; knight c3; pawns a3/b3/c4/d3/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen g2; rook a8; bishop f8; knights c5/h6; pawns a7/c6/c7/d6/e5/f6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight c5→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king c1→c2).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight b3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nb3+.

Position data

FEN: r3kb2/p1p4p/2pp1ppn/2n1p3/2P1P3/PPNP2P1/1B1QBPqP/2KR3R w q - 4 18

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