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

Rating 1870 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight c4; pawns d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6 — knight c4→b6. Opponent replies axb6 (pawn a7→b6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Nb6.

Position data

FEN: rnb1k2r/pp3pp1/4p2p/8/2NP4/8/3K1PPP/R4B1R b kq - 0 15

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