Chess Puzzle #1yOk1 — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1157 · Beginner · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/c5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knights d7/e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ndxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen b5→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp1n1ppp/4p3/2Pp4/1b2n3/1PNQPN2/PBP2PPP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 0 8

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