Chess Puzzle #I59YP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1472 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/g2; bishop e2; knights c3/g4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; knights b8/h5; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg4 — bishop f5→g4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxg4 — pawn f3→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nf4 (knight h5→f4).
  3. Best move: exf4 — pawn e3→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move fxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/4q1pp/p3pp2/1p3b1n/2pP2N1/2N1PP2/PP2BKRP/R2Q4 b - - 1 20

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