Chess Puzzle #20tDW — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 740 · Beginner · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knights e4/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop d7→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd8+ (queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxd8 — queen e7→d8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd8+ (rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxd8 — king c8→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1bnr/pp1bq1pp/2n1p3/2p1N3/2P1N3/4B3/PPPQ1PPP/2KR3R w - - 3 12

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