Chess Puzzle #3KIh1 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2439 · Master · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c3; queen g2; rook b1; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/e4/f2. Black: king b8; queen h4; bishops c8/h6; knight d4; pawns a4/b6/c7/d6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g6→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1 — rook b1→h1. Opponent replies Ne2+ (knight d4→e2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc2 — king c3→c2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move is Rh1.

Position data

FEN: 1kb5/2p5/1p1p2pb/3Np3/p1PnP2q/P1KP4/1P3PQ1/1R6 b - - 1 34

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