Chess Puzzle #1aVJn — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1697 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight h8; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e6; rook d8; bishop c5; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen h5→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe6+ (rook e1→e6, captures queen, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c5→e6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3rk2N/ppp4p/2n1q1p1/2b4Q/4n3/8/PPPP1PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 13

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