Chess Puzzle #2HLy7 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/e3; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen b6→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight d5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight c7→b5, captures queen.

Why this works

After 11...Qxb5, the queen sits undefended on b5 while Black's king remains in the center on e8. White's 1.Nc7+ is a royal fork — the knight checks the king and simultaneously attacks the queen. Because the king must move (the check cannot be blocked), the queen becomes undefended. Black's 1...Kd8 is forced, and 2.Nxb5 wins the queen cleanly. The knight on d5 was perfectly placed to execute this tactic; Black's capture of the bishop on b5 actually worsened the king's safety by removing a piece that was controlling key central squares.

What to practice

Train recognition of knight forks against the king when the opponent's pieces cluster nearby. The pattern here — a centralized knight forking king and queen — repeats constantly in the opening when the Black king hasn't castled. Always check whether your opponent's last capture removed a defender or left their king vulnerable to a knight jump with a second target.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp1b1ppp/1qn5/1B1N4/3Pn3/4BN2/PP3PPP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 11

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