Chess Puzzle #KX0Ve — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1552 · Intermediate · advantage, intermezzo, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights d4/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight g3→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, opening, short. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp1pppbp/2n2np1/8/3NP3/6N1/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 4 7

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