Chess Puzzle #Ed21c — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/f1; knights c3/e4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight d5; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies exd5 (pawn e6→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/1p2bppp/p3p3/3n4/3PN3/2N1PQ2/PP4PP/2R2RK1 b - - 7 17

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