Chess Puzzle #5Kbwy — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1338 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g4; knights b8/f6; pawns a5/b5/c6/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxg4 (knight f6→g4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen e2→g4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1r2/4bkp1/2pp1n1p/pp2P3/4P1b1/P1N1BN2/1PP1QPPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 12

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