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

Rating 1900 · Advanced · clearance, equality, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rook b1; bishop c1; knight b5; pawns a2/c4/e3/f4. Black: king c8; queen a7; rooks d8/h4; bishop d6; knight g8; pawns a6/c7/e4/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa8 — queen a7→a8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6+ — knight b5→d6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rb6 — rook b1→b6. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight g8→e7).
  4. Best move: Rxa6 — rook b6→a6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

clearance, equality, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Nxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2n1/q1p5/p2b1p2/1N4p1/Q1P1pP1r/4P3/P7/1RB3K1 b - - 4 28

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