Chess Puzzle #6pu6a — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1561 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/c1; knights c8/d3; pawns b2/b3/d4/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b7; rook a8; bishop c7; knights a5/f6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight c8→e7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3 — knight a5→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nc5+ (knight d3→c5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxc5 — knight b3→c5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1N5/1kb2pp1/p3pnp1/np1p4/3P4/1P1NPP2/1P4PP/R1R3K1 w - - 1 23

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