Chess Puzzle #D6o7K — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1430 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king d2; queen a4; rook h1; bishop b5; knights a3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; bishop d7; knight b8; pawns b7/c7/d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb5 — bishop d7→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb5 — knight a3→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qa6 (queen d6→a6).
  3. Best move: Na7+ — knight b5→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxa7 (queen a6→a7, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack, X-ray attack. The key move Nxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1nkr3r/1ppb2pp/3qpp2/1B1p4/Q2P1P2/N1P1PN2/PP1K2PP/7R b - - 2 15

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