Chess Puzzle #FipwH — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2650 · Master · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rooks d1/e1; bishop e3; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h1; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg2 — queen h1→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies Qg4+ (queen g2→g4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kd2 — king e2→d2. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen g4→g5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop e3→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Nd5.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pppp1ppp/3b1n2/6N1/8/2N1B3/PPQ1KPP1/3RR2q b - - 3 16

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