Chess Puzzle #ACTNo — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishops b2/d3; knights d2/f3; pawns a4/b3/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knights c5/f6; pawns a6/b4/d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd3 — knight c5→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen c7→d8).
  3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move cxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1bq1bppp/p2ppn2/2n1P3/Pp6/1P1B1N2/1BPN1PPP/2RQR1K1 b - - 0 15

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