Chess Puzzle #mmq8k — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1936 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d3/h1; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/e7; pawns a5/b7/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5 — knight c3→b5. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight d7→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Nb5.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/1p1nnppp/4p3/p1ppP1BQ/3P4/2NR4/PPP2PPP/2K4R b kq - 1 12

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