Chess Puzzle #JogSr — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2012 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishops e5/f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b4/c8; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/f5/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight e4→c3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d3→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move axb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnbq1rk1/ppp5/3pp2p/4Bpp1/1b1Pn3/P1NQPN2/1PP2PPP/R3KB1R b KQ - 0 10

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