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

Rating 2336 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a4; rooks d1/h1; bishop d2; knights c3/g6; pawns a2/b2/b3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king c8; queen c5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights d4/d7; pawns a6/b7/c7/e4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh8 — knight g6→h8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Opponent replies Qa3 (queen a4→a3).
  3. Best move: Qc6 — queen c5→c6.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nb6.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/1ppn2p1/p5Np/2q5/Q2np1P1/1PN4P/PP1B1P2/2KR3R w - - 3 19

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