Chess Puzzle #3O5b3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1379 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f4; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/d3/d5/f2/g2/h5. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5 — knight c3→b5. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen d4→f6).
  3. Best move: Nc7+ — knight b5→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Nb5.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp1nbpp1/2p1p2p/3P3P/3q1B2/P1NP4/1P1Q1PP1/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 15

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