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

Rating 2212 · Expert · defensive move, endgame, equality, hanging piece, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook c5; knight e5; pawns d4/e3/f5/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a6/f8; pawns a3/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen e6→b3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa6 — queen e2→a6, captures rook. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
  3. Best move: Nd3 — knight e5→d3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, endgame, equality, hanging piece, short. The key move Qxa6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5pp1/r3q2p/2R1NP2/3P4/p3P1PP/4Q2K/8 b - - 0 36

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