Chess Puzzle #nlbx8 — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1839 · Advanced · advantage, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f2; knights d2/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ncxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight f5→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qb5 (queen b6→b5).
  4. Best move: Qxd4 — queen a4→d4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1p3p2/pqn1p1p1/3pPn1p/3P1P2/P4N1P/1PQN1BP1/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 15

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.