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

Rating 1477 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/h6; knights c3/g1; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/g7; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2 — queen c1→c2, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1bppbp/3p1npB/q1p5/2BnP1PP/P1NP1P2/1PP5/R1Q1K1NR b KQ - 0 11

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