Chess Puzzle #GEYEi — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1820 · Advanced · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king b2; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; knight c3; pawns b3/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/c8; knight d7; pawns a6/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra4 — rook a1→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc5 — knight d7→c5. Opponent replies Qxh7+ (queen d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb4 (rook a4→b4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c5→d3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/3n1p1p/p4p2/3P4/1q6/1PNQ1P2/1K4PP/R6R w - - 3 24

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