Chess Puzzle #o9slP — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1873 · Advanced · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g4; rooks c1/g2; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/e8; knight b4; pawns a6/d5/e5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa2 — knight b4→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kxa2 — king b1→a2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qb3+ (queen b6→b3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Ka1 — king a2→a1.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Kxa2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/5p2/pq4pp/3pp3/1n2P1Q1/N4P1P/PP4R1/1KR5 b - - 0 27

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