Chess Puzzle #1SITC — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1136 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c7; knights b5/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen e7→d6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop c7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/ppBpqp1p/1n2pnp1/1Np5/4P3/3P2Q1/PPP1NPPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 6 10

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