Chess Puzzle #F0ZdA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1529 · Intermediate · advantage, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rook d1; bishop b3; knight e2; pawns a2/d5/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c5; rooks c8/f8; knight c4; pawns a7/b5/e6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen c5→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop b3→c4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e3→f4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight e2→f4, captures queen. Opponent replies bxc4 (pawn b5→c4, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight f4→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, master, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/p5kp/4p1p1/1pqPPp2/2n2Q2/1B3P2/P3N1PP/3R3K b - - 2 30

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