Chess Puzzle #4UI2W — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2215 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/e4/f5/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks a8/g8; bishop g6; pawns a4/c5/c6/d5/e6/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: axb3 — pawn a4→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxb3 (pawn c2→b3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxa2 — rook a8→a2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move axb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k1r1/5p2/2p1p1bp/2pp1P2/p3P1P1/1PqPQ2P/P1PN4/1K1R3R w q - 0 23

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