Chess Puzzle #36BNp — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2227 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop h4; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c6; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen d7→d4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxd4 (bishop b6→d4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop h4→e7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppqnpp1/1bbp3p/4P3/3P3B/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 13

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