Chess Puzzle #LoXQB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2490 · Master · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks a1/e1; bishops e2/g3; knight a4; pawns a5/d5/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; knights c6/d4; pawns a6/b7/c7/f6/g4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg3 — bishop d6→g3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc5 — knight a4→c5. Opponent replies Nb3 (knight d4→b3).
  3. Best move: Nxd7 — knight c5→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1ppq4/p1nb1p2/P2P4/N2n2p1/6B1/4BPP1/RQ2R1K1 b - - 0 21

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