Chess Puzzle #3IStq — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1857 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook e1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen f3; rooks d8/f8; knights c6/g6; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook d8→d1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxf3 — knight g5→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ng5+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/pp4pk/2n3np/8/4N3/5qPQ/PP3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 8 23

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