Chess Puzzle #7v9r5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1887 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks b1/c1; bishop a6; knight b3; pawns e3/e5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/e7; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc1 — knight b3→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxa6 (bishop b7→a6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxa6 — queen a2→a6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1b1qbpp1/B3p2p/3pP3/7P/1N2P1P1/Q4P2/1RR3K1 b - - 0 29

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