Chess Puzzle #Cv0xR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1502 · Intermediate · advantage, master, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rook d1; bishops e3/g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g5. Black: king d7; queen a5; rook c8; bishop e7; knight a4; pawns a6/b4/d6/e5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight a4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/3kb1p1/p2pp1B1/q3p1P1/np3P2/4B3/PPPQ4/1K1R4 w - - 0 27

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