Chess Puzzle #H1N2n — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1463 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/g3; knights b3/c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights e5/e8; pawns a7/b7/c5/c6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight e5→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen b4→b6).
  3. Best move: Na4 — knight c3→a4.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is a3.

Position data

FEN: r1b1nrk1/pp3pb1/2p4p/2p1n1p1/1q2P3/1NN3B1/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 1 16

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