Chess Puzzle #sXeE8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1867 · Advanced · advantage, endgame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; rook d1; knights b5/e5; pawns a4/c3/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen b6; bishop e6; pawns a5/b7/c5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bb3 — bishop e6→b3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd6 — rook d1→d6. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen b6→d6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rd6.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3pp1/1q2b2p/pNp1N2P/P7/2P5/5PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 34

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