Chess Puzzle #o3w3S — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2530 · Master · advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h6; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/c4; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/e3/f2/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c7/c8; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d7/e4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: d5 — pawn d4→d5.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The key move Nxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1nrk1/ppbpqp1p/2p3pQ/4N1P1/2BPp3/1P2P3/PBP2P1P/R3K2R b KQ - 1 14

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