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

Rating 1978 · Advanced · advantage, clearance, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks c1/e1; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/h4. Black: king h8; queen b7; rooks a8/c8; bishop d8; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/e4/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rc7 — rook c1→c7. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen b7→c7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxc7 — bishop d6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, long, master, middlegame. The key move Nxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1rb3k/1q4p1/p1NBpnQp/1p1P4/4p2P/8/PP3P2/2R1R1K1 b - - 2 26

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