Chess Puzzle #9IU1B — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2540 · Master · advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king d5; rook a3; pawns e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; knight a4; pawns a6/b5/c3/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd4 — king d5→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: c2 — pawn c3→c2. Opponent replies Ra1 (rook a3→a1).
  3. Best move: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Opponent replies Kc4 (king d4→c4).
  4. Best move: Nc5 — knight a4→c5.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is c2.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/p5p1/1p1KP3/n4P2/R1p3P1/7P/8 w - - 0 37

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