Chess Puzzle #1Zzrc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2338 · Expert · advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks b1/e1; bishops b5/f4; knight c6; pawns c2/d4/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/g7; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b2/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb4+ — knight c6→b4, gives check. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxb7 — queen f3→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies O-O (king e8→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxa2 — knight b4→a2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame. The key move is Nb4+.

Position data

FEN: rn2k2r/pb3pb1/2NPpnpp/1B6/3P1B2/5Q2/qpP2PPP/1R2R1K1 b kq - 2 15

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