Chess Puzzle #4VCX8 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1036 · Beginner · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights d2/f3; pawns a4/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops f6/g6; knights c8/d7; pawns a5/c6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd3 — bishop e2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc5 — knight d7→c5. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen b3→c4).
  3. Best move: Nxd3 — knight c5→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: r1nq1rk1/3n1ppp/2p2bb1/p3p3/P3P3/1QP2N1P/1P1NBPP1/R1B2RK1 w - - 6 15

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