Chess Puzzle #rmS7H — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2250 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long, skewer.

Position

White: king h2; rook f1; knight d6; pawns a3/b4/c5/g4. Black: king c3; rook a7; bishop b5; pawns c6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook a7→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb5+ — knight d6→b5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c6→b5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rf3+ — rook f1→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king c3→d4).
  4. Best move: Rxa3 — rook f3→a3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, skewer. The key move Nxb5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/r4p2/2pN2pp/1bP5/1P4P1/P1k5/7K/5R2 b - - 2 45

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