Academy | Calculation | Counting | Example #1
To find the answer, you could calculate all the moves:
1… dxe4 2. Nxe4 Nxe4 3. fxe4 Rxe4 … and see that Black is indeed threatening to capture and win the pawn on e4.
Alternatively, you could simply count: Black has three attackers (pawn, knight, and rook), while White has only two defenders (pawn and knight). This shows that Black will capture first and last.
In the game, White played 1. 0-0-0, pinning the black pawn to the queen and effectively reducing the number of attackers to two.
Note: As you gain experience with the counting technique, you’ll become more confident using it. At the same time, you’ll learn to be cautious and recognize the importance of also considering the impact of tactical details.