Chess Puzzle #ACxW1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1684 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b3/f1; bishop g2; knights b1/d2; pawns a4/c4/e3/g3/h4. Black: king g8; rooks a8/d8; bishops d5/e7; knight c6; pawns b4/b7/c7/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxb3 (knight a5→b3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxb3 — knight d2→b3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1pp1b1pp/2n5/3b4/PpP1p2P/1R2P1P1/3N2B1/1N3RK1 b - - 1 21

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