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

Rating 928 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook a1; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3. Black: king e5; rook h2; pawns a7/b6/c7/f4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook h2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc4+ — knight a3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd5 (king e5→d5).
  3. Best move: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/p1p5/1p5p/4k1p1/5p2/N1P2P2/PP5r/R5K1 b - - 3 33

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