Chess Puzzle #9F3El — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1894 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f4; bishop c4; pawns a4/b5/d6/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knight g8; pawns a5/b6/c7/d7/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg2+ — bishop b7→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kxg2 — king h1→g2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qg5+ (queen e7→g5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf3 — king g2→f3.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Kxg2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/1bppq3/1p1P3p/pP2Pp2/P1B2R2/8/6PP/R2Q3K b kq - 0 23

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