Chess Puzzle #MNp0m — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1584 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/g3; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e5/f7/g5/h6. 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: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
  3. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: rnbqk2r/pp3p2/3p1n1p/3Pp1p1/1b2P3/2N3B1/PP3PPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 1 9

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