Chess Puzzle #AjW1K — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1533 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; knights c5/d7; pawns a4/b5/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; bishops e7/e8; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd7 — bishop e8→d7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd7 — knight c5→d7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen b6→d8).
  3. Best move: Nc5 — knight d7→c5.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move Nxd7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4b1k1/1p1Nb1p1/1q2pp1p/pPNp4/P2P1P2/4P3/6PP/2Q3K1 b - - 1 27

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