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

Rating 1899 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; rook e1; bishops a4/e3; knight f3; pawns b4/c2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook f8; bishop e7; knights d7/f6; pawns b6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bg5 — bishop e3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8 — rook f8→a8. Opponent replies Qc3 (queen a1→c3).
  3. Best move: Qxa4 — queen a6→a4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Ra8.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3nbppp/qp1p1n2/3Pp3/BP2P3/4BN2/2P2PPP/Q3R1K1 w - - 0 20

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