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

Rating 1031 · Beginner · crushing, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/f4; knights d5/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/d7; pawns a7/b7/d4/e7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight d5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight c7→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/pp1npppp/2n5/qB1NP3/3p1B2/8/PPPQ1PPP/R3K1NR b KQkq - 5 9

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