Chess Puzzle #EotjU — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2725 · Master · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks g3/h3; bishop b2; knight d4; pawns a4/b3/d3/e3/e5/g2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c8/f8; bishops a6/g7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop g7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Opponent replies Bxb2 (bishop e5→b2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c6→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp3pb1/b3p1p1/3pP2p/Pq1N4/1P1PP1RR/1B2Q1P1/6K1 b - - 6 29

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