Chess Puzzle #HZtqb — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1728 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; knight f5; pawns b2/b3/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook f8; bishops d6/d7; knight e6; pawns a6/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight e6→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f5→h4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd3 (knight f4→d3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3b1ppp/p1pbn3/3p1N2/5P1q/1P1Q4/1PP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 2 19

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