Chess Puzzle #8AcrC — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1509 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, fork, master, short.

Position

White: king c1; rook c5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; rook d8; knight f2; pawns a5/b5/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight f2→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king c1→c2).
  3. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d3→c5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Nd3+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/6p1/5p1p/ppR5/5P2/5N1P/PPP2nP1/2K5 w - - 2 26

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