Chess Puzzle #5wOGi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1656 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e3; rooks c1/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks f4/h5; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe2 — knight d4→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe2 — queen e3→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Rfh4 (rook f4→h4).
  3. Best move: h3 — pawn h2→h3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/ppp1q1p1/3pp2p/4p2r/3nPr2/3PQ3/PPP1NPPP/2R2R1K b - - 12 19

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