Chess Puzzle #6h0a7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1477 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rook c1; bishop f1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/f2/g5. Black: king c8; queen h3; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/e5/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen h3→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5 — knight e3→f5. Opponent replies Qg4+ (queen h4→g4, gives check).
  3. Best move: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen g4→f5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf5.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp2pp1/3b4/4p1Pp/3pP3/3PN2q/PPQ1KP2/2R2B2 b - - 2 20

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