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

Rating 1877 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen a5; rooks d3/h1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f2/h3. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks h4/h8; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen f5→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra3 — rook d3→a3. Opponent replies Qxc2+ (queen f2→c2, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxc2 — king b1→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Ra3.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/pp3pp1/1np1p1p1/Q1NpPq2/3P3r/3R3P/PPP2P2/1K5R b - - 16 25

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