Chess Puzzle #2wXwH — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2019 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/e1; bishop e3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/e6/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b8; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/e5; knight e7; pawns a6/b6/c5/f6/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop b7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e5→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook h8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qg7 — queen f6→g7.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1q1rk2r/1b2n3/pp2Pppp/2pPb3/4N3/4BQ1P/PP3PP1/3RR2K b k - 1 27

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