Chess Puzzle #k6abk — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2001 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f3; bishops d2/d3; knights d5/g3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights e8/f6; pawns a7/b7/e4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc7 — knight d5→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe2 (pawn f3→e2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1nrk1/ppq2pbp/5np1/3N1P2/3Pp3/3BPRN1/PP1BQ1PP/R5K1 b - - 0 15

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