Chess Puzzle #B1Mc9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1607 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c2; rooks c1/d7; bishop h2; knight b3; pawns a3/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e6; rook d8; bishop f7; knight c4; pawns a5/c6/c7/e5/f6/g5/h4. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc5 — knight b3→c5. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen e6→e7).
  3. Best move: Nxd7 — knight c5→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/2pR1b2/2p1qp2/p3p1p1/2n1P2p/PN5P/1PQ2PPB/K1R5 b - - 0 30

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