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

Rating 1994 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishops c1/g2; knight c5; pawns a2/d5/e4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop e2; knights d7/g8; pawns b4/c6/e5/f6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf1 — bishop e2→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb7 — knight c5→b7. Opponent replies Bxg2+ (bishop f1→g2, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxg2 — king h1→g2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen d6→e7).
  4. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Nb7.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/3n2p1/2pq1p2/2NPp2p/1p2P2P/6P1/P1Q1bPB1/2BR1R1K b kq - 0 19

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