Chess Puzzle #2kx1B — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1178 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/e3; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights d4/d7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd4 (bishop e3→d4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop g7→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move cxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp1nppbp/3p2p1/2pP4/2PnP3/2NBBN2/PP1Q1PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 10

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