Chess Puzzle #HU9ct — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1533 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop h4; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop d6→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e2→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen c7→e5, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move dxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppqn1pp1/2pb1n1p/3pN3/3P3B/2N4P/PPP1QPP1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 14

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