Chess Puzzle #3mG3F — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1078 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d3/g5; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishops b7/g7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b6→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6+ — knight c4→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqk2r/pb1n1pbp/1p1p1np1/6B1/2NPP3/3B4/PPQ2PPP/2KR3R b k - 2 14

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