Chess Puzzle #IsoI0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1458 · Intermediate · advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks c2/d1; bishop a6; knight f3; pawns a4/b5/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks c3/c7; bishop e7; knight c5; pawns b6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa6 — knight c5→a6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c2→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c7→c3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: bxa6 — pawn b5→a6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2r1bpp1/Bp2q2p/1Pn1p3/P3P3/2r2NPP/2R1QPK1/3R4 b - - 6 40

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