Chess Puzzle #QZguy — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1925 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a2/f1; bishops d2/g2; knights a4/e2; pawns a3/c3/f3/g4/h5. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/h7; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen a5→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight a4→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen a6→c4).
  3. Best move: Nb3 — knight c5→b3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2nppb/2n1p2p/q1bp3P/N5P1/P1P2P2/R2BN1B1/3QKR2 b kq - 2 18

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