Chess Puzzle #NSlq0 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1818 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook f2; bishops e2/e3; knights a1/f3; pawns a2/c4/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a4/b4/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen b2→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is a3.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/2p2pp1/2n4p/4p3/ppP1P3/3PBN2/PQ2BRPP/N5K1 w - - 0 23

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