Chess Puzzle #C7cOy — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1849 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/f7; bishop g7; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/e6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb1 — rook a1→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxb1 — queen b6→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4rbp/1qp1p1p1/3nP3/5PP1/2P3N1/PP2Q1KP/R1B2R2 w - - 3 26

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