Chess Puzzle #ENKUa — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2019 · Expert · defensive move, equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights d4/f3; pawns a3/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/f8; knight c6; pawns a4/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bc5 (bishop f8→c5).
  3. Best move: Be3 — bishop c1→e3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, opening, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1p3ppp/1qn5/3pPb2/p2N1P2/P4N2/1P4PP/R1BQ1RK1 b kq - 0 15

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