Winning blow: knight to a5
c9-03647Shuffle Rating 780Theme: Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.
White to move — find the best continuation
The tactical motive
Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.
White to move — find the best continuation
Solution & explanation
Main line
10. Nxa5 Bd7 11. Qe4 Nxd4 12. Qxb7
Why it works
- Great move! knight to a5 keeps the pressure (+2.6).
- queen to e4 develops smoothly.
- Precise: queen to b7 is the top choice (+2.6).
- You win a piece — the rook.
- If instead Bd7, then Nxb7+ and you win the rook.
About this position
These pieces come from starting position #507.
SP-507 · ThroneGuard — Both knights start on inner files (b–g) while the king sits centrally on d or e — one of 204 positions filed here.
Explore position #507Similar puzzles
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