Chess Puzzle #FqHoz — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1507 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/g2; knights e4/f3; pawns a3/b3/c4/d2/e2/f2/g3. Black: king e8; queen h7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/g4; knights d4/g8; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/g5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: exf3 — pawn e2→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qh2+ (queen h7→h2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g4→h3).
  4. Best move: Bxh3 — bishop g2→h3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxh3+ (queen h2→h3, captures bishop, gives check).
  5. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move exf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/1pp4q/3p4/p1b1p1p1/2PnN1b1/PP3NP1/1B1PPPB1/R2QR1K1 b kq - 5 15

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