Chess Puzzle #Ca2EH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1457 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f3; knight c4; pawns b2/b3/c5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; bishop c6; pawns a4/b4/e5/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c4→a5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: bxa3 — pawn b4→a3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight a5→c6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: a2 — pawn a3→a2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move is a3.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6p1/2b2p1p/2P1p3/ppN1P3/1P3K1P/1P4P1/8 w - - 0 31

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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