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

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king d3; knight c5; pawns a6/b3/c2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; rook b5; pawns c6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook b5→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Opponent replies Rc4 (rook c5→c4).
  3. Best move: a7 — pawn a6→a7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p2ppp/P1p5/1rNp4/6P1/1P1K3P/2P5/8 b - - 0 39

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