Chess Puzzle #c7vq9 — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2476 · Master · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knights e2/f3; pawns a4/b2/d4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/d7; knights c6/f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ncxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nfxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight f5→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nfxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp1b1ppp/1qn1p3/3pPn2/Pb1P1P2/5N2/1P1BN1PP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 6 11

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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