Chess Puzzle #AC40g — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1736 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/f1; bishops d3/d6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/e8; bishops d7/g7; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop d7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Na4 — knight c3→a4. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook d8→d6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxb6 — knight a4→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Na4.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp1b1pbp/1qpBn1p1/3p4/8/2NBP2P/PP1Q1PP1/2R2RK1 b - - 9 19

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