Chess Puzzle #3PwVr — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1221 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks g3/g5; bishops e3/f3; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/f4/h2. Black: king h7; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; bishop d6; knight f5; pawns a6/b5/c7/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg3+ — knight f5→g3, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen h4→g5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move fxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/2p2p1k/p2bp1p1/1p3nRp/3P1P1q/2PQBBR1/P1P2P1P/7K b - - 9 23

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