Chess Puzzle #NOXtZ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2182 · Expert · equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; knights c3/c4; pawns a3/b6/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen e6; rooks d4/h8; bishops e7/f5; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb6 — pawn c7→b6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5 — knight c3→b5. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen e6→c4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a4→a7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/ppp1bppp/1P2qn2/2P2b2/Q1Nr4/P1N1B3/5PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17

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