Chess Puzzle #13M4a — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1452 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/e1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a5/b5/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen d8→g5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h6→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/5p2/2n1pn1Q/pp1p4/3P4/2P2NPP/PP4P1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 18

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