Chess Puzzle #1DvPB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1298 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e2; rooks b2/c7; knight d2; pawns a6/c5/d4/f2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king e7; rook d8; knights b5/d7; pawns c6/d5/e4/f5/g4/h3. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook c7→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4+ — knight b5→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
  3. Best move: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/2Rnk3/P1p5/1nPp1p2/3PpPp1/6Pp/1R1NKP1P/8 w - - 3 34

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