Chess Puzzle #CC4Nk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1846 · Advanced · advantage, hanging piece, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights b5/g1; pawns d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f6; knight c5; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies O-O (king e8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen c2→c5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, opening, short. The key move Rxa8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/1p3ppp/p2P1b2/1Nn1p3/8/8/2Q2PPP/R3KBNR b KQkq - 2 17

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