Chess Puzzle #8HD9n — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1435 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, hanging piece, short.

Position

White: king f1; rook d7; knight a3; pawns e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; rooks b8/c2; pawns e5/f2/f4/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb1+ — rook b8→b1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb1 — knight a3→b1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rc1+ (rook c2→c1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf2 — king f1→f2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, hanging piece, short. The key move Nxb1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/3R3p/8/4p3/4Pp2/N7/2r2pPP/5K2 b - - 2 34

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