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

Rating 1474 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; rook b1; bishops f4/g2; knights c4/e5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e4/g3. Black: king g8; rooks a8/f8; bishops a5/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies dxc6 (pawn d7→c6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c4→a5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p1p1ppp/p1n5/b3N3/2NPPB2/2P3P1/P2K2B1/1R6 b - - 1 18

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