Chess Puzzle #9WhNW — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1528 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, pin, short.

Position

White: king g3; rook b3; knight a7; pawn a2. Black: king f6; queen f5; pawns f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf3 — rook b3→f3. Opponent replies Qxf3+ (queen f5→f3, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf3 — king g3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, pin, short. The key move is Rf3.

Position data

FEN: 8/N4p1p/5k2/5q2/8/1R4K1/P7/8 b - - 8 49

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