Chess Puzzle #3DPDx — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2513 · Master · advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks b1/g1; knights b2/d4; pawns a3/b5/c3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king c8; queen a6; rooks e5/g8; bishops e7/e8; pawns a7/c4/d3/d5/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a6→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc4 — knight b2→c4, captures pawn. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa8+ — queen f3→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
  4. Best move: Ra1 — rook b1→a1.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2k1b1r1/p3bp2/q3p2p/1P1pr3/2pN4/P1Pp1QPP/1N3P2/1R4RK b - - 0 26

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