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

Rating 950 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen a4; rook b1; knights d4/f3; pawns a2/c5/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen e4; rooks d8/g8; bishop b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop b6→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight d4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen e4→c6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen a4→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2r1/ppp2p1p/1b5p/2P1P3/Q2Nq3/5NP1/P4PKP/1R6 b - - 0 24

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