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

Rating 1897 · Advanced · advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king f2; rook d5; bishop g3; knight e2; pawns c3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king f7; rook e8; knight c4; pawns a3/b5/f6/g5/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb5 — rook d5→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a2 — pawn a3→a2. Opponent replies Rb7+ (rook b5→b7, gives check).
  3. Best move: Re7 — rook e8→e7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, endgame, master, short. The key move is a2.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/5k1p/5p2/1p1R2p1/2n1P3/p1P3BP/4NKP1/8 w - - 0 34

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