Chess Puzzle #JBsl9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1557 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g6; rooks c3/d1; bishop e4; pawns a4/b2/c2/d6/f2/h4. Black: king b8; queen b4; rooks d7/d8; knight c5; pawns a5/b6/c4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxa4 — knight c5→a4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rb3 (rook c3→b3).
  3. Best move: cxb3 — pawn c4→b3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Nxa4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/3r4/1p1P2Q1/p1n5/Pqp1B2P/2R5/1PP2P2/1K1R4 w - - 1 35

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