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

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/c2; knights d2/f4; pawns d4/e3/f2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rooks a3/c8; bishop f6; knight d6; pawns c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc8+ (rook c2→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move cxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5p1p/q1pn1bp1/3p4/3P1NP1/r3P3/2RN1P1P/2RQ2K1 w - - 13 28

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