Chess Puzzle #Xb35q — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2513 · Master · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, master.

Position

White: king g3; rook d7; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/c5/f3/g4. Black: king f7; queen b3; pawns a4/b5/f6/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke8 — king f7→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c6 — pawn c5→c6. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen b3→b2, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight f5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  4. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, master. The key move is c6.

Position data

FEN: 8/3R1k2/5p2/1pP2Np1/p5P1/Pq3PK1/1P6/8 b - - 2 46

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