Chess Puzzle #SP3aS — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2396 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knights f3/g3; pawns a2/b5/c4/f2/g2. Black: king b8; queen g6; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook a1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2+ — knight d4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen a4→c2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop f8→b4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nc2+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/ppp2ppp/5nq1/1P2p3/Q1Pn4/4BNN1/P3BPP1/R3K2R w KQ - 1 16

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