Chess Puzzle #2PwCx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1233 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/e1; knights b5/e2; pawns b4/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/d6; bishops f6/h3; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd5 — rook d6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc7 — knight b5→c7. Opponent replies Rdd8 (rook d5→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc7.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp3ppp/3r1b2/1N1Pp3/1P6/6Pb/4NP1P/R3R1K1 b - - 1 22

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