Chess Puzzle #DE3SS — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2321 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d3/f2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f3; bishops c8/h4; knights g6/h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg3 — knight h5→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3 — knight g1→f3, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxh1 (knight g3→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh1 — rook d1→h1, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxf2 (bishop h4→f2, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen c2→f2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/ppp3pp/3p2n1/3Pp2n/2P1P2b/2NB1rP1/PPQ2B2/2KR2NR b - - 1 15

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