Chess Puzzle #3peKO — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1271 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, master, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/d3; knights d2/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops f5/g7; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop f5→d3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, master, opening, short. The key move bxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/pp2ppbp/2p3p1/3pNb2/3PnP2/2PBP3/PP1N2PP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 9 9

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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