Chess Puzzle #1pfD0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2493 · Master · advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen g6; rooks d1/g1; bishops d4/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/h5. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knight d5; pawns a7/b6/c5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bd3 — bishop f1→d3. Opponent replies Rf5 (rook f8→f5).
  4. Best move: Bxf5 — bishop d3→f5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move is Ng5.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pb2q1b1/1p4Qp/2pnP2P/3BN3/2P5/PP6/2KR1BR1 b - - 2 22

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