Chess Puzzle #Ns33M — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1878 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop f4; knight c3; pawns a5/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O-O — king e8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxc7 — knight d5→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1pqb3p/p1n3p1/P2pp3/5B2/2N2Q2/1PP2PPP/R3R1K1 b kq - 1 17

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