Chess Puzzle #1r5RC — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1742 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c2/g5; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd7 — knight e5→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen d8→d7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop g5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pb1nbppp/1p2pn2/2p1N1B1/2PP4/2NQ4/PPB2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 3 12

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