Chess Puzzle #IjrYY — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1681 · Advanced · advantage, clearance, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks a1/d1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight e5→c4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop e6→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bc3 — bishop d2→c3.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pq2p1p/p3bQp1/3pn3/8/2N1P2P/PP1B2P1/R2R2K1 b - - 1 19

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