Chess Puzzle #0ed7G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2299 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/e5; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/d4/f3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; bishop e6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move hxg5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rqr1k1/p4pp1/1pn1bn1p/3pB1P1/3P3P/P1NB1P2/1PQ5/R3K2R b KQ - 0 18

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