Chess Puzzle #lcZ9N — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1993 · Advanced · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a7/e8; knight g3; pawns a3/b4/c3/d3/d7/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen f6; rook d8; knight a6; pawns b5/b6/c5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb8 — knight a6→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4 — knight g3→e4. Opponent replies Qf4 (queen f6→f4).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook e8→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move is Ne4.

Position data

FEN: 3rR3/R2P1pk1/np3qp1/1pp4p/1P6/P1PP2NP/6P1/6K1 b - - 4 31

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