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

Rating 1035 · Beginner · crushing, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop e7; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ndxe7 — knight d5→e7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d6→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp2Bpp1/2n1p2p/1q1n4/4N3/2P2N2/PP3PPP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 12

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