Chess Puzzle #2HIUq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1562 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, pin, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/g2; knights d5/g1; pawns a2/b2/d3/e2/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g4; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/e4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Opponent replies Qxb8+ (queen b7→b8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxb8 — knight c6→b8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, pin, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rb8.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pQ2nppp/2n5/q2N4/4p1b1/3P4/PP2PPBP/R1B1K1NR w KQkq - 1 10

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