Chess Puzzle #2RNnO — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1553 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e5; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move fxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/pppp2pp/5n2/2q1b1N1/3nPP2/2NQ4/PP4PP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 2 12

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