Chess Puzzle #1O0Az — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1125 · Beginner · advantage, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king d5; rook a8; pawns a2/b3/c6/g4/h3. Black: king f7; bishop b6; knight e8; pawns e5/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a2→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight e8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe5 (king d5→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: R3n3/5k2/1bP4p/3Kp1p1/6P1/1P5P/P7/8 w - - 3 39

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