Chess Puzzle #9NYtQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2112 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c3/e3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knight e5; pawns a6/b6/c7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6 — knight e4→d6. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen c8→c7).
  3. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d6→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd6.

Position data

FEN: r1q2rk1/1bp2pbp/pp4p1/4n3/4N3/P1P1P1PP/1P3PB1/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 20

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