Chess Puzzle #92M9u — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · advantage, clearance, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d3; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/d7; pawns a7/b7/d4/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ndxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen h5→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/pp1n2p1/1qn1p2p/3pP3/2Pp4/3B1N2/PP1N2PP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 0 11

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