Chess Puzzle #60Ms3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2062 · Expert · advanced pawn, advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook e1; bishops e7/g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d6/f2/g4/h3. Black: king d7; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/g7; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: dxe7 — pawn d6→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Nd5.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r3/pp1kBpb1/3P2p1/8/3n2P1/2N4P/PP3PB1/4R1K1 b - - 0 23

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