Chess Puzzle #Ldx6P — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1597 · Intermediate · capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks c4/e1; knight c5; pawns b3/c2/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks a8/c8; bishop g4; pawns a4/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa4 — knight c5→a4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc4 — rook c8→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies bxc4 (pawn b3→c4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa4 — queen b5→a4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/4pp1p/6p1/1qNP4/p1R1P1b1/1PQ5/2P3PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 25

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