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

Rating 1044 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c4; knight g3; pawns a5/b4/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen h4; rooks a8/g8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight g3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
  3. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f5→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf5+.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/1pp1kp2/p1npb3/P3p2p/1PB1P1pq/2P1Q1N1/5PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19

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.