Chess Puzzle #HvPsq — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1833 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/d2; knights b1/g3; pawns b2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a5/h8; bishops f8/g6; knights c6/h6; pawns b4/c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa5 — rook a1→a5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c6→a5, captures rook. Opponent replies Ba4 (bishop b3→a4).
  3. Best move: c6 — pawn c7→c6.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxa5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/2pq1ppp/2n1p1bn/r2pP3/1p1P4/1B4N1/1P1B1PPP/RN1Q1RK1 w k - 0 15

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