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

Rating 1556 · Intermediate · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen e2; rooks a1/g1; knight f2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/f3/g2. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks b8/h3; bishop d6; pawns a6/c3/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb4 — rook b8→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3 — knight f2→h3, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd4+ (rook b4→d4, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc1 — king d1→c1.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k3/5pp1/p2bp1p1/3p4/3P4/1Pp2Pqr/P1P1QNP1/R2K2R1 b - - 1 20

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