Chess Puzzle #SM2wf — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2106 · Expert · en passant, equality, long, opening, pin.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rook a1; bishops c1/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e5/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h1; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b6/c5/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight g8→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  4. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d6→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

en passant, equality, long, opening, pin. The key move exf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn2k1nr/pb1pbppp/1p6/2p1P3/4N3/3P1NP1/PPP1Q2P/R1B1KB1q b Qkq - 0 9

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