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

Rating 1303 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight f6→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d2→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/2q1bpp1/p3pn1p/2pp4/5B1P/2N2P2/PPPQ2P1/1K1R1B1R b kq - 1 16

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