Chess Puzzle #2v7UC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1094 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook h1; bishop b6; knights c4/f3; pawns a4/b3/c2/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen e4; rooks d8/e8; knights b8/d1; pawns a5/c7/d7/f4/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb6 — pawn c7→b6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight c4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b7→a8).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: 1n1rr3/1kpp2pp/1B3p2/p7/P1N1qp2/1P3N2/2PQ2PP/2Kn3R b - - 0 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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